Dubai , 5 April 2008A 232-run partnership between Bas Zuiderent and Ryan ten Doeschate has put the Netherlands in a very strong position going into the final day of its ICC Intercontinental Cup match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Sharjah on Sunday.
Having lost the six points for a first-innings lead by just two runs on day two, the Netherlands went into bat a second time on Saturday determined to do everything in its power to make sure it claims the remaining 14 on offer.
Although it lost Alexei Kervezee early, the other opener Zuiderent and number three ten Doeschate consolidated and then made the UAE suffer in the Sharjah heat. Having been 30-1, the pair brought the score up to 262 before ten Doeschate was eventually caught by Rashid Khan off the bowling of Arshad Ali for 146.
The 27-year-old faced 187 deliveries in an innings that included 20 fours and two sixes. But his departure sparked a serious batting collapse as the Netherlands finished the day on 343-9 with only Peter Borren (18) from the remaining nine batsmen managing to get into double figures.
As the wickets fell all around him, Zuiderent stood firm and presented a stone-wall figure for the UAE bowlers to aim at. In all, he faced 273 balls and will resume batting with number 11 Mohammad Kashif in the morning unbeaten on 149 with his side 341 runs ahead.
Arshad was the pick of the UAE bowling, registering figures of 3-99 as he took the crucial wickets of ten Doeschate, Borren and Eric Szwarczynski. He was well supported by Khurram Khan (2-85) and Mohammad Tauqir (2-79).
Netherlands captain Jeroen Smits will know that his side simply must win this game if it has any chance of progressing to this year’s final so he will not waste much time in the morning before getting Saqib Ali and his men out in the middle. As such, it is a game Smits may have to risk losing in order to take the 10 wickets needed for victory.
It promises to be an enthralling day’s play at Sharjah Stadium with all four results still possible. Play resumes at 0930, local time.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 in Dubai .
ICC MEDIA RELEASE