All-round van der Gugten drives Netherlands
Timm van der Gugten's all-round brilliance helped the Netherlands strengthen its grip against Papua New Guinea in the last match of first-round action of the ICC Intercontinental Cup on the second day at the VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen on Wednesday (June 17).
The allrounder’s six-wicket haul, followed by a vital half-century in the second innings, helped the host set PNG a formidable target of 305. The visitor ended the day on 66 for 2, still needing 239 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Despite more than two days left to get the runs, PNG opener Lega Siaka came out all guns blazing, making his intentions clear as he belted a 37-ball 49, 44 of which came in boundaries. Max O’Dowd, the right-arm offspinner, struck with his fourth ball to dismiss Siaka in the 12th over, hastening the close of play.
Earlier in the day, in pursuit of the Netherlands’s first-innings total of 209, PNG only managed to add 25 runs after resuming on 103 for 6. It was bowled out for 128 owing mainly to van der Gugten’s returns of 6 for 29 in 17 overs.
With a lead of 81, the host was reduced to 17 for 3 in the eighth over in the second innings after Willie Gavera struck in successive overs. Michael Rippon (36) and Wesley Barresi (43) then helped steady the Netherlands ship with a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Mahuru Dai broke the stand dismissing Rippon, triggering another flurry of wickets and giving PNG a chance to restrict the host. John Reva accounted for captain Peter Borren for nought in the next over and then got Baressi four overs later. With the settled pair dismissed within the space of five overs, the Netherlands slipped to 110 for 7, a lead of 191 at that stage.
Van der Gugten then came to the rescue once again, this time with the willow. Along with Paul van Meekeren (33), he stitched a partnership of 83 for the eighth wicket en route to a half-century that included ten fours. Gavera came back to dismiss van der Gugten for 57, picking up his third wicket. The Netherlands was finally bowled out for 223 with Reva picking up four wickets in addition to accounting for a run-out.
On resumption of play in the morning, van der Gugten, who picked up four wickets on the first day, dismissed the overnight pair of captain Jack Vare (16) and Reva (8) within the first seven overs. Daniel Doram and van Meekeren, who picked up two wickets, then wrapped up the innings after Norman Vanua offered some resistance to pick 16 runs towards the end.