Netherlands v Canada, Intercontinental Cup, Pretoria, 3rd day
Ali's rally can't save Canada
Cricinfo staff
December 6, 2006
Canada 103 and 485 (Ali 174, Maxwell 72, Bhatti 83*, van Bunge 4-163) lost to Netherlands 409 and 181 for 3 (de Grooth 82, Zuiderent 42) by seven wickets Scorecard
A big century by Qaiser Ali was not enough to save Canada - or even to take them to a fourth day - as Netherlands completed victory at Pretoria. Still, Canada will be encouraged by a decent batting display at last - after their first-innings collapse for 103, and their recent shocking form with the bat, this time they reached 485 to set Netherlands 180 for victory.
Netherlands duly knocked off the runs for just three wickets, Tom de Grooth leading the way with 82. The inevitable man of the match, Ryan ten Doeschate, fittingly struck the winning runs, biffing one of his five fours on his way to an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls.
It had seemed unlikely that Netherlands would even need to bat again when, on the second day, Canada were in some difficulty at 153 for 5, still trailing by 152. But Qaiser Ali continued in cracking form, building on his overnight 76 to make 176. He shared in a sixth-wicket stand of 184 with Don Maxwell (72) and Umar Bhatti (83*) also chipped in useful runs to make Netherlands enter a second innings. But they hunted down their target with ease.
The openers de Grooth and Bas Zuiderent (42) got them off to a flyer, putting on 122. After that partnership the result was never in doubt and Netherlands lost just two more wickets to canter home.
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