Netherlands must overcome Bermuda and weather to keep ICC Intercontinental Cup hopes alive

The Netherlands team takes on Bermuda in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Pretoria starting on Tuesday knowing that it must win if it has any chance of toppling Canada at the top of Group B.

Canada is currently flying high with a maximum 40 points from two games, having seen off the challenges of Bermuda and Kenya with outright wins earlier this year.

The Dutchmen, on the other hand, could only manage a draw with Kenya in their opening match in Nairobi back in March, gaining just six points from a possible 20.

However, fate is still very much in the hands of coach Peter Cantrell's side as an outright victory over Bermuda during the next four days in LC de Villiers Oval in the South African capital will set up a winner-takes-all affair against Canada in the final match of that group early in December at the same venue.

If that scenario comes to pass, the side that wins that match will secure a passage to the final of the tournament.

Bermuda's form has been indifferent of late, following a disappointing tour of Kenya, and they have been suffering with injuries so the Netherlands players will feel confident ahead of the latest encounter. In fact, the thing which may get most in their way over the next few days is something over which they have no control: the weather.

The rain has been falling heavily on the Highveld in recent days, leaving outfields sodden and squares unplayable. The ODI between South Africa and India in nearby Johannesburg was washed out on Sunday and the forecast in the area is not good for the remainder of the week.

As a result, Cantrell is conscious of making the most of conditions if and when the players do manage to take the field.

"This is a must-win game for us," he said.

"We have to get all the points and that would set up a nice final game in our group against Canada.

"Unfortunately with the poor weather that we have been having in Pretoria, the ground is really wet and so we are expecting to lose quite a bit of time, especially as there are more storms forecast for the rest of the week.

"The other side of it is that we haven't been able to do much outside practice so far. Most of our guys haven't had a bat or bowl on grass since the end of August," he added.

The 2001 ICC Trophy champions do have a couple of players coming into a bit of form. Daan van Bunge has been one of the stars of the recently concluded ICC Winter Training Camp in Pretoria, scoring three half-centuries in five innings when the WTC played South African provincial opposition.

Ryan ten Doeschate is a player who seems to relish this competition, averaging 121 with bat, and through the likes of captain Luuk van Troost, Bas Zuiderent and Alex Kervezee they have potential match winners at every turn.

Bermuda may be without the unlucky Lionel Cann who was struck on the leg by a ball from team-mate Stefan Kelly during practice and is classed as doubtful. He had just missed the four-week tour to Kenya as he recovered from groin surgery so it is quite a frustrating time for the all-rounder.

Back into the squad comes captain Clay Smith, missing from the recent ODI series in Kenya with a hamstring injury. Previously dogged by a long-term knee injury, he is now at the veteran stage but his experience could still prove vital.

Smith may even move up to the top of the order to solve a long-standing weakness for Bermuda in that area, secure in the knowledge that David Hemp, captain of UK county side Glamorgan, is adding quality to the middle order.

The ICC Intercontinental Cup is a first-class competition of four-day cricket, designed to give the leading Associate teams the opportunity to play the longer form of the game.

After two years of playing the event on a regional basis for the group stages, this year's tournament is being played in two groups involving matches outside teams' immediate area.

In Group B the Canadians occupy top spot on 40 points, followed by Kenya on nine and Netherlands on six with Bermuda last on three. Having played just one game so far, the Dutch can top the group but only if they beat Bermuda (and the weather) and follow it up with victory against Canada.

In Group A 2004 champions Scotland sit on top, closely followed by defending champions Ireland with one game remaining for both, away to the United Arab Emirates. The Scots and Irish both registered convincing outright wins over Namibia earlier in the competition.

Netherlands (from): Luuk van Troost (captain), Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Groot, Eric Szwarczynski, Ryan ten Doeschate, Billy Stelling, Jeroen Smits (wicketkeeper), Mark Jonkman, Peter Borren, Alexei Kervezee, Daan van Bunge, Pieter Seelaar, Muhammed Kashif.

Bermuda (from): Clay Smith (captain), Irving Romaine, Dean Minors (wicketkeeper), Janeiro Tucker, Saleem Mukuddern, Stephen Outerbridge, Hasan Durham, Dwayne Leverock, Ryan Steede, Malachi Jones, Kevin Hurdle, Kwame Tucker, Rodney Trott, Stefan Kelly, David Hemp.

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