ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

NETHERLANDS v ZIMBABWE XI The Dutch began strongly with medium pacer Berend Westdijk using the new ball well and taking three wickets in three overs, whilst only eight runs were scored. Stuart Matsikenyeri and Craig Ervine began the recovery as the ball lost its shine and had added 80 for the third wicket when, just before lunch, Bernard Loots had Matsikenyeri leg-before. After the interval, Loots bowled Charles Coventry but Ervine became increasingly dominant and found a useful partner in Ed Rainsford. Ervine’s contribution was 50 to a stand of 83 which ended when Eric Szwarczynski held on to a good catch in the gully to remove Rainsford. Regis Chakabva played solidly in a partnership of 75 but Westdijk returned to the attack with the new ball to remove Ervine and gain his fourth wicket. Ervine hit 13 fours in his 145 which represented 53.3% of Zimbabwe’s score of 272 for seven. Peter Borren took three quick wickets to end the innings and leave the Dutch with five overs to bat before the close. These proved disastrous for the home side. Nick Statham was run out without facing a ball, when a straight drive by Szwarczynski was deflected off Rainsford’s hand on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Szwarczynski then went after a long hop from leg spinner Natsai Mushangwe and chopped it on to his stumps. The start on the second day was delayed until mid-day because of overnight rain and morning showers. In good bowling conditions, Zimbabwe had the Dutch in all sorts of difficulties. All the bowlers, both pace and spin, found the conditions helpful. Only Ruud Nijman, the nightwatchman, stayed long at the crease, finally falling in the mid afternoon for 23 made off 102 balls. The Dutch were 94 for eight when Pieter Seelaar joined Wesley Barresi and the pair began to repair the damage, at least to the extent of preventing the follow-on. Compared to his colleagues, Barresi played with conviction, his 81 being the second-highest score of the match so far. Nathan Waller broke the partnership, courtesy of a fine gully catch by Ervine, but not before it had added 91 at a strike rate of 57.2. The innings ended one run later leaving Seelar undefeated on 40. With a comfortable lead of 112, Zimbabwe set about consolidating their position but, after 11 overs, Borren had Chamu Chibhabha leg-before and, three overs later, Maruma was caught at the wicket off the bowling of Loots. Matsikenyeri and Vusi Sibanda then took Zimbabwe to a lead of 191 at the close. Zimbabwe took control of the match on the third day. The overnight batsmen advanced the score to 119 before Jonkman bowled Matsikenyeri. Coventry again contributed little but Ervine joined Sibanda in a stand of 84, which ended when Barresi made a brilliant leg-side stumping off Szwarczynski to remove Sibanda. His 88 came at a strike rate of 58.6 and included 12 fours and one six. Chakabva and Ervine raised the rate to 140.9 and the Dutch attack proved helpless against the onslaught. Chakabva’s 54 runs came at a strike rate of 163.6 and it was only a matter of time before the declaration came. When it did so, the Dutch were faced with a target of 418 runs to win or just over four sessions to survive for a draw, in either case for zero points. They were also handicapped by an injury to Nijman who broke a bone in his left hand while batting in the first innings. He was able to bowl but it was unlikely that he would be able to bat. The Dutch lost a wicket either side of the tea interval before Szwarczynski and Barresi showed the level of determination required to save the match. After a partnership of 67, Barresi was cruelly leg-before to a ball from Rainsford which kept very low. Diepeveen started promisingly but his effort ended with an unnecessary run-out. Seelaar took up the nightwatchman’s role and saw the Dutch through to the close. Szwarczynski and Seelaar lasted half an hour together adding a further 26 runs before Szwarczynski was leg-before to Mushangwe who bowled unchanged through the morning session. Borren stayed until just after lunch when, after a partnership of 66, he mistimed a drive off Timycen Maruma and was easily caught at mid on. Seelaar continued his resistance whilst his partners in the Dutch tail did their best in suppport. It took an excellent slip catch by Sibanda to remove Jonkman and another lucky run-out to account for Loots; again it was a deflection off Rainsford on to the stumps. Maruma ended Westdijk’s gallant attempt at survival of 35 balls to give Zimbabwe an easy victory by 137 runs. The Dutch did well to hold off defeat until ten minutes before tea with Seelaar again not out. In the match he received 230 balls and made 121 runs; unfortunately as his batting improved, his bowling fell away and he was unable to pitch consistently on a length. Craig Ervine duly received the Man-of-the-Match award. 204 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10