Rain denies Canada victory
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 20th July 2009
Canada were all praise for the Netherlands all-rounder Daan van Bunge after weather denied it a certain victory in the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10 match in Rotterdam.
Almost three hours of play was lost on the final day as the Dutch, resuming the day at 112-5 while chasing 368 runs for victory, escaped with a highly respectable draw. Only 59 overs of play was possible on the last day in which the Netherlands added 121 runs to its overnight score and lost three wickets to finish at 233-8.
The Dutch collected nine points (six for a 52-run first innings lead and three for a draw) from the match while the North Americans, who were sighting 13 victory points, had to settle with just three points for a draw.
Canada captain Umar Bhatti praised van Bunge’s match-saving effort, saying: “It was an excellent batting performance by (van) Bunge as he put the team first and batted with tremendous responsibility. Even the sight of a maiden first-class century couldn’t distract him. I think his knock has been an example and a lesson for many batsmen.”
Van Bunge had walked on to the pitch on the third afternoon after the Netherlands was reduced to 11-2 which soon became 77-5. But when the match ended, he had faced 294 balls while scoring 98 not out that included 10 fours and a six.
He had a good game overall. Besides scoring a match-saving 98 not out, he also had match figures of 6-120, including 3-11 in the first innings.
Sunil Dhaniram was the mainstay of Canada’s second innings. He scored a superlative 144 that helped Canada declare their second innings at 419-9 to secure a 367-run lead. It was Dhaniram’s second first-class century that came off 178 balls and included 17 fours and two sixes.
