Gloucestershire romp to win over Netherlands

CLYDESDALE BANK 40 GROUP B, Rotterdam:
Gloucestershire 122-3 (10 ovs) beat Netherlands 68-6 (10 ovs) by 54 runs
Match scorecard

Franklin hit three sixes and two fours in his rapid knock

Gloucestershire enhanced their chances of claiming a Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-final place with a rain-affected 54-run win over the Netherlands in Rotterdam.

In a game reduced to 10 overs per side, James Franklin hit 45 not out off 20 balls and Will Porterfield 46 off 26 as Gloucestershire racked up 122-3.

Jon Lewis then took 3-3 to reduce the home side to 14-3 on their way to posting only 68-6.

The win sees Gloucestershire climb above Essex into second in Group B.

They trail leaders Yorkshire by four points with only two games left, but could still claim a last-four berth if they finish as the best runner-up.

Gloucestershire bowler Jon Lewis told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"It was a very strange game, I think we bowled our overs in about 25 minutes, but at the end of the day it's great that we've got the two points.

"The ground staff here have been fantastic and the Holland cricket guys here have been great to get the game on, so that's great for us."

"We were desperate for those two points, that's why we hung around so long and I think maybe if we weren't so desperate for the points then the game probably wouldn't have got on."