Dutch triumph in rain-affected Rotterdam

In the end it was more like a Twenty20 game than an ODI, and it was The Netherlands who were able to repeat their Belfast success, beating Kenya by seven wickets at an ironically sunny Hazelaarweg.

The heavy rain which had fallen during the week had literally left its mark on the pitch, and in many places in the world, everybody would have taken one look and gone home.

But with both teams keen to play, the umpires sensibly held off on their decision for as long as possible, and after consulting the captains decided that a 24-over match would be possible, starting at four o’clock.

Jeroen Smits won a vital toss, and Kennedy Otieno (a.k.a. Obuya) and Alex Obanda understandably began a little gingerly on a slow pitch which in truth didn’t offer much assistance to either batsmen or bowlers.

Even so, Kenya had reached 48-1 by the halfway mark, the only Dutch success being the dismissal of Obanda, out to a smart catch by Smits off the bowling of Pieter Seelaar.

Suddenly, Seelaar can’t stop taking wickets, and he picked up three here – the other two stumped by Smits as the Kenyans went looking for quick runs in the latter stages – for just 22 runs.

Steve Tikolo again demonstrated his quality with a 32-ball innings of 34, but the run out of Otieno in the sixteenth over broke the Kenyans’ momentum, and their total of 118-5 was a good bit lower than they would have wanted at the outset.

Darron Reekers again failed to get a start when the Dutch replied, caught by Obanda at backward point in Thomas Odoyo’s opening over, but Eric Szwarczynski and Tom de Grooth kept the scoreboard ticking over until, with the total on 40 in the ninth over, De Grooth was beaten by a direct hit and run out.

Bas Zuiderent hadn’t batted since breaking his thumb a month ago, but he quickly demonstrated that his hand has lost nothing of its cunning, and he and Szwarczynski took on the Kenyan spinners in a 13-over partnership of 66.

Szwarczynski was looking increasingly composed and seemed certain to record his fifth ODI half-century when, on 46 and with just 13 needed for the win, he was beaten by Tikolo and bowled. He had faced 65 balls, and hit three boundaries.

Zuiderent now took over, however, and despite the further loss of Peter Borren he saw his side home with an over to spare, his 42-ball not-out 41, including three fours and a six, earning him the Man of the Match award.