The Netherlands provided some comfort for their supporters, when they outclassed Canada in the battle for seventh place in the ICC World Cricket Cup Qualifier 2014, played at the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui yesterday.
Canada won the toss and elected to bat and made a solid start before losing Nitish Kumar for 22, to have 55 runs on the board. Raza-ur-Reham anchored his side's innings with a classy 88, with Canada at 187/7 with five overs remaining in their turn at bat.
Two run-outs late in the Canadian innings took its toll as they were removed for 210.
Michael Rippon bowled with real enthusiasm to grab four Canadian wickets at a cost of 37 runs. The Netherlands were determined to erase the memories of their failure to progress to the Super Six in style and produced a batting blitzkrieg, to cruise to an eight wicket win in the 36th over.
An opening partnership between Eric Szwarczynski and Stephan Myburgh (36) produced 81 runs, with Szwarczynski taking his side to victory with an unbeaten 75.