Napier and Wright hold nerve in last-ball win

A DRAMATIC final ball win against the Netherlands kept up Essex'sfine early season form in the Clydesdale Bank 40 on Friday.

But against one of the weakest opposition on the county circuitEssex should have had a far easier afternoon than they did - thisone was too close for comfort.

Chasing 218-8 the Dutch looked set for a shock win at 179-3 butthey just failed to keep up with the asking rate and medium fastbowler Chris Wright kept his nerve in the final over to claim thenarrowest of victories.

"We got out of jail," admitted coach Paul Grayson afterwards.

"It was too close but it was a terrific little bit of bowlingfrom Napes (Graham Napier) and Wrighty (Chris Wright) but there areareas that we need to improve on that we have identified."

Chris Wright praised Essex allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate, whoalso plays for Holland, after the win for giving him the rightadvice in the closing stages.

"Ryan ten Doeschate knows these guys fairly well and I justfollowed his advice.

Advice "I was on the wrong end of one of these at Worcester lastyear, so it was nice to make amends.

"In hindsight, we were a few short, but we should still havedefended it better than we did.

"At one point it looked they might beat us but it was fantasticto pull it back."

Playing at the glorious tree-line Amstelveen ground just outsidethe capital of Amsterdam, this was Essex's first competitive gameagainst the Dutch and served as a good opportunity for Essex toconsolidate their position towards the top of Group B. They werewithout Danish Kan-eria due to visa problems and Ravi Bopara wasunavailable.

After loosing the toss Essex were put in and Matt Walker, nowfully recovered from a groin problem, top scored for Essex with 71,with Jaik Mickleburgh weighing in with 46.

A late cameo of 24 off 16 balls from James Foster helped push thescore past the 200 mark but it wasn't a particularly threateningtotal on a slowish wicket.

Despite loosing two early wickets a steady partnership of 103 forthe fourth wicket between Eric Szwarczynski (75) and Bas Zuiderent(56) looked to have set up the hosts for a successful run chase.

Belted But when both men fell in successive balls it was game on.

They needed 16 from the last two overs with five wickets in handand when Graham Napier was belted for a six off the first ball ofthat spell Holland looked to be in the driving seat.

However the bowlers kept cool and Chris Wright only concededthree runs from the first five balls of the last over and when thebatsmen could only score one off the final ball he was run out byGrant Flower.

Essex have now won three out of their five 40 over matches withone no result and Grayson is satisfied with his team's response tothat opening day ten wicket hammering at home to Yorkshire. "Theyhave responded well," he said.

"I'm pleased with the response and we are doing okay but there isroom for improvement."

Match report David Arnold email: sport@gazettenews.co.ukClydesdale Bank 40 VRA Ground, Amstelveen. Essex Eagles: 218 -8(Walker 71) The Netherlands: 217-6 ( Szwarczynski 75, ten Doeschate3-42) Essex won by one run Man-of-the-Match: Matt Walker Points:Essex 2 Netherlands 0 Next Match: LV=County Championship versusNottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Play starts on Saturday and isscheduled to last four days