India gave further proof of the chasm between Test and non-Test-playing nations, when they crushed the Netherlands by 182-runs in their World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

Half-centuries from skipper Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, India's two most celebrated batsmen, lifted the 1983 champions to a formidable 300 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs, despite a five-wicket haul for Ryan ten Doeschate.

The Netherlands failed to mount a serious challenge to the imposing target and were dismissed for 118 in 37.5 overs as the Indians completed the cakewalk.

The manner of the Dutch's side's demise will no doubt continue to fuel the debate about whether the ICC Associate nations have a right to be taking part in cricket's major showpiece.

India are one of the world's marquee sides, but the Netherlands face the might of reigning world champions Australia, new world No. 1 South Africa, and World Cricket League finalists Scotland in Group A of the competition.

Their top-order batsmen found scoring difficult against the new-ball pair of Irfan Pathan and Shantha Sreesanth, then their spin bowling wizardry of Harbhajan Singh, in particular, Yuvraj Singh, and Anil Kumble cruelly exposed the Dutch middle order.

Harbhajan had Alexei Kervezee and Daan van Bunge both stumped for 14 and four respectively to leave the Dutch on 69 for four.

The Dutch then lost their last six wickets for 10 runs in the space of 44 balls, as Yuvraj collected four wickets for 12 runs from 3.5 overs to end as India's most successful bowler.

Earlier, India imposed themselves early on the Netherlands' bowling, but they gifted their wickets in the latter stages of the innings.

Dravid hit five fours and two sixes in the top score of 74 off 92 balls, and batting star Sachin Tendulkar supported with 61 off 59 balls which included five fours and two sixes.

Dravid and Tendulkar added 116 for the fourth wicket, but ten Doeschate bowling a full length and varying his pace picked off Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Harbhajan to end with five for 55 from his allotment of 10 overs.

The Indians face West Indies in their second and final warm-up contest on Friday at the same venue, where the Netherlands meet Kenya on Thursday.

Brief scores: India: 300 for nine off 50 overs (Rahul Dravid 74, Sachin Tendulkar 61, Virender Sehwag 28, Irfan Pathan 25 not out, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 21, Robin Uthappa 20; Ryan ten Doeschate 5-55, Peter Borren 2-46).

The Netherlands: 118 off 37.5 overs (Bas Zuiderent 32, Ryan ten Doeschate 31; Yuvraj Singh 4-12, Anil Kumble 2-14, Harbhajan Singh 2-24).

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)