Ryan ten Doeschate produced a gem of an innings as the Netherlands kicked off their build-up to the World Cup with an improbable two-wicket win over Kenya in a warm-up match here on Tuesday.
Chasing a competitive 264 for victory, the Netherlands were in all sorts of trouble at 130 for seven in the 30th over.
But ten Doeschate (98 off 92 balls) had other ideas as he was fulcrum of an 82-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Atse Buurman (29 off 46 balls), and then added another 62 runs with Mudassar Bukhari to lead his team to an incredible victory from a hopeless position.
Ten Doeschate’s innings spoilt Seren Waters’ day — the Kenyan centurion, who played through the innings to take his team to a solid total after the Africans won the toss and decided to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground here.
After Waters (unbeaten 126 off 150 balls) set the tone for the 2003 semi-finalists, veteran Steve Tikolo made up for his flop show with the bat, picking up three wickets to put the Netherlands on to the backfoot.
But neither Tikolo nor any other Kenyan bowlers could dislodge ten Doeschate.
The 30-year-old right-hander took charge after Alexei Kervezee set it up for the Dutch with a counter-attacking 49 off just 33 deliveries. Kervezee’s innings was laced with ten boundaries.
A flurry of wickets left the Netherlands in a spot of bother but ten Doeschate was at ease, finding the ropes at regular intervals to keep his team in the hunt.
All, however, seemed lost after Tom de Grooth fell to Tikolo. But then began the dramatic recovery, which should pep up the Dutchmen ahead of the finals, and give Kenya enough reasons to worry.
