The Hindu : Kloppenburg and van Noortwijk run riot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Kloppenburg and van Noortwijk run riot

BLOEMFONTEIN (South Africa) MARCH 3. Jan Kloppenburg stroked the first limited-overs international century by a Dutchman and then snared four wickets as the Netherlands beat Namibia by 64 runs on Monday to claim its first World Cup win.

Klaas van Noortwijk joined in the record-breaking effort with Kloppenburg, and scored an unbeaten 134 as the Dutch raced to a formidable 314 for four.

Namibia was bowled out for 250 in reply to finish its first World Cup with six consecutive defeats.

The Dutch deserved the win, notching up its highest total in a one-day International and Kloppenburg (121) and van Noortwijk combining in a 228-run partnership, a Dutch record for any wicket.

Both centurions suffered from cramps in the heat of Bloemfontein, but van Noortwijk slammed his way through the pain.

He even took some singles and twos in the final two overs, but he was clearly in search of boundaries as the Dutch sought to put their total beyond the reach of the Namibians.

Kloppenburg eventually fell to a tired shot, top-edging an intended slash through the off-side to wicketkeeper Melt van Schoor.

His 121 came off 142 balls and included four sixes and six boundaries.

His exit preceded a mini collapse to give the Namibians some sort of reward for their efforts.

Bas Zuiderent, the lone professional in the Dutch side, came in after a long partnership and went out after facing seven balls.

Louis Burger returned to the attack to bowl Zuiderent and then inflict the same fate on Tim de Leede first ball.

Burger was then put to the sword, as Luuk van Troost and van Noortwijk, almost immobile with cramps, plundered runs off the final overs. Van Noortwijk's 134 included 11 fours and three sixes.

Namibia started its run chase well, racing to 76 before losing Jan-Berry Burger for 41 and it was Kloppenburg who struck first to start the Dutch on their victory trail.

A partnership of 92 between Danie Keulder and Gavin Murgatroyd kept Namibia's hopes alive, until Kloppenburg removed Keulder for 52.

Murgatroyd also got 52 as the innings slowly wound down.

Kloppenburg took two wickets off consecutive balls to accelerate Namibia's demise and then Adeel Raja wrapped things up with his off-spinners, returning with figures of four for 42, identical figures to Kloppenburg.

Dutch captain Roland Lefebvre was forced to sit out his last one-day International because of a hamstring injury he suffered against Zimbabwe on Friday.

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