Moeen's ton fails to prevent defeat (From Worcester News)

Moeen's ton fails to prevent defeat

8:30pm Sunday 21st August 2011 in Match Reports By Michael Reeves, twitter.com/michaelreevesWN

WORCESTERSHIRE Royals slip-ped to a two-wicket defeat to the Netherlands despite a century from Moeen Ali.

The New Road side have gone through their entire home Clydesdale Bank 40 Group ‘A’ campaign losing every single match.

Director of cricket Steve Rho-des has used the final few matches of this tournament to blood some of his up-and-coming youngsters, but to lose all six of their group games will not go down well with supporters.

Moeen hit a career-best 158 at Sussex last weekend at Horsham and the 24-year-old followed up against Holland with a fine 117.

But this was more of a measured innings from the 24-year-old, his century came off 101 balls which included 12 fours.

Moeen shared a 99-run third-wicket stand with James Cam-eron.

The Zimbabwean-born all-rounder fell eight short of his half-century after a superb diving catch from Peter Borren off Tim Gruijters. However, Wor-cestershire will feel that they should have had more runs on the board having been 172-3 going into the final 10 overs.

But despite some early slips in the field from the visitors they came back well to restrict the New Road men to just 239-8 as Mudassar Bukhari finished with a one-day best of 4-41.

The Netherlands, needing to stay at six-an-over throughout their reply, get off to the worst possible start.

Jack Shantry was quick to make the breakthrough when Eric Szwarczynski looked to drive him back down the ground, but the Royals bowler, took a fine one-handed catch.

Two balls later, Shantry was celebrating again as he dismissed Michael Swart without scoring. However, Stephan My-burgh hit a 48-ball 55, which included 11 fours, to keep the Netherlands in the hunt.

Having run out his in-form batsman, Wesley Barresi needed to make amends and together with his captain Peter Borren put on 58 for the fifth wicket.

But Nick Harrison managed to break the stand with his first senior Worcestershire wicket by dismissing Borren.

However, Barresi, dropped on 73 off Gareth Andrew, saw his side home with a fine 97.