COLOMBO – Ryan ten Doeschate hit a brilliant 98 not out to guide the Netherlands to a two-wicket upset win over Kenya in a World Cup warm-up match here Tuesday, sending a timely warning to tournament rivals. Ten Doeschate’s 92-ball knock, spiced with four sixes and three fours, helped the Netherlands chase a challenging 264-run target after being down and out at 130-7 with part-time spinner Steve Tikolo taking four wickets.
Serene Waters had scored a brilliant 126 not out for Kenya. Ten Doeschate added an invaluable 66 runs for the eighth wicket with Aste Buurman (29). And even when his partner was out with 52 still needed, he did not lose heart, putting on 52 for an unbroken ninth-wicket stand with Mudassar Bukhari who finished on 20 not out. The 30-year-old all-rounder’s effort overshadowed Water’s innings in the morning which had lifted the Kenyans in the final overs with a fifth-wicket stand of 129 with Rakep Patel.
Waters carried his bat and hit twelve boundaries during his 150-ball knock. Patel made a 59-ball 64 with seven boundaries. The Netherlands lost wickets at regular intervals with only opener Alex Kervezee (49) negotiating the pace-cum spin attack of Kenya, before Ten Doeschate turned the tables. The defeat gives Kenya, who also lost their first warm-up match against the West Indies by 61 runs on Saturday, much to think about ahead of their first World Cup match in Group A against Pakistan at Hambantota on February 23.
The Netherlands, who were thrashed by Sri Lanka by 156 runs in their first warm-up, go into their World Cup opener against England at Nagpur on February 22, high on confidence. The Netherlands utilised injured captain Peter Borren in their batting line-up after initially deciding not to risk him as a bowler in case he aggravated an abdominal muscle injury. Borren made just one.
