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Half-centuries by openers Tom de Grooth, Alexei Kervezee and a late flourish from Mudassar Bukhari set up Netherlands’ 172-run win against Bermuda in the first ODI here on Saturday. Netherlands set Bermuda a formidable target of 316 and then bowled them out for 143 in 38 overs.

Bermuda did not make the best use of winning the toss as de Grooth and Kervezee added 154 for the first wicket in 24.4 overs. Kervezee scored 62 off 66 balls before he was caught off the bowling of Dwayne Leverock. de Grooth also batted with urgency, scoring 97 off only 99 balls before he was bowled by Ryan Steede agonisingly short of what would have been his maiden one-day hundred. Bermuda fought back by reducing Netherlands to 192 for 4 but met with resistance in the form of Bukhari.

Bukhari hit four fours and three sixes during his 60 off 49 balls and pushed Netherlands past 300. Bermuda used as many as eight bowlers and Steede was the best of them, taking 1 for 35 off ten overs while Leverock picked up 3 for 58.

A target of 316 was always going to be difficult and Bermuda’s chase gathered no momentum with wickets falling at regular intervals. Ryan ten Doeschate took 3 for 20 and Pieter Seelaar took 3 for 30 as Bermuda were dismissed for 143 after 38 overs.

Scores: Netherlands 315 for 8 (de Grooth 97, Kervezee 62, Bukhari 60) beat Bermuda 143 (ten Doeschate 3-20) by 172 runs.

Source:Cricket News