Netherlands 304-9– Bermuda 241-9

A swashbuckling half-century partnership between tailenders Jeroen Smits and Edgar Schiferli put paid to Bermuda's 2011 World Cup qualifying hopes at Senwes Park yesterday.

The pair blasted 66 runs off just 22 deliveries to lay the foundation for the Netherland's 63-run triumph over their ICC Associate rivals.

Schiferli clobbered 41 from just 17 balls and roughed up swing bowler Janeiro Tucker who was carted for 33 runs in his final two overs.

Skipper Irving Romaine also came in for some brutal punishment as he was dispatched for 20 runs in his last two overs while fast bowler Stefan Kelly went for 13 in the first and only over of his second spell.

Smits, who was dropped in the deep by Tucker off Kelly, went on to hit three boundaries in a knock of 29 off 30 balls and remained unbeaten at the end of his team's innings.

It was an awesome fireworks display that lifted the Netherlands past the triple century mark and virtually batted Bermuda out of contention.

"When a team like Holland take the power play they really go at it. The wicket had dried up and they were just hitting through the line," said Romaine, reflecting on the partnership that swung the match in the Dutch's favour. "Obviously everyone is upset with the result. We expected big things here but have come up short and the guys are really upset."

Bermuda also would not have been pleased with the 30 extras they gave away in the field that included 20 wides.

In reply, in-form batsman David Hemp made a fist of it by stroking 81 from 101 deliveries and received solid support from middle order bat Glenn Blakeney who smashed 42 off 49 balls. But once Hemp departed in the 45th over after feathering a catch behind to wicketkeeper and Netherlands skipper Smits, the writing was well and truly on the wall for Bermuda who endured the added misery of surrendering their one-day international status with yesterday's loss as well.

With their World Cup hopes dashed, and relegation to the ICC Pepsi World Cricket League Division Three now a threat, Bermuda will have to pick themselves up ahead of Saturday's match with Oman in a play-off that will ultimately decide ninth through 12th positions. And there will be much at stake in Saturday's contest with Oman as the eventual winner will pocket a handsome $350,000 for their efforts and enhance their chances of 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup qualification.

Things appeared to be going in Bermuda's favor when they won the crucial toss and sent the Dutch in to bat on a damp pitch following a delayed start to the match due to overnight showers.

But once play began, skipper Romaine might have rued his decision as Holland raced to 90 for two, thanks to blistering knocks of 44 and 35 from openers Darron Reekers and Alexei Kervezee who added 64 runs for the first wicket.

Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate kept the pressure on with a well-paced 67 off 78 balls before Schiferli and Smits unleashed total mayhem in the closing overs, the Dutch blasting 70 runs off the final power play.

Off spinner Rodney Trott bowled ten overs unchanged and seized two for 43 while skipper Romaine had two for 46 and Kelly two for 60 respectively to lead Bermuda's attack.Bermuda made a positive start to their reply with Hemp and Cann (21) adding 33 for the first wicket.

Hemp, who thumped nine boundaries, also added 43 runs with the aggressive Fiqre Crockwell (23), 34 with Stephen Outerbridge (23) and a further 54 with Blakeney who brought up Bermuda's 150 in the 30th over with a boundary off medium pacer Reekers. But once Blakeney fell prey to a cleanly taken catch in the covers, Bermuda lost wickets at regular intervals as the Dutch tightened the noose.

Hemp eventually reached his half -century in the 35th over off 75 balls in 125 minutes before the curtains finally came down.

Man-of-the-match Doeschate also led the Netherlands bowling attack, claiming three for 51 while left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar and seamer Mudassar Bukhari had two each.

@$:Bermuda v Netherlands

Netherlands

DJ Reekers c Robinson b Kelly 35

AN Kervezee b Leverock 44

ES Szwarczynski run out (Hemp) 8

RN ten Doeschate c Cann b Romaine 67

DLS van Bunge lbw b Tucker 21

B Zuiderent c Hemp b Trott 1

TN de Grooth lbw b Trott 24

Mudassar Bukhari c Outerbridge b Romaine 4

J Smits not out 29

E Schiferli c Cann b Kelly 41

Extras: (b 2, lb 7, w 20, nb 1) 30

Total: (for nine wickets; 50 overs) 304

Fall of wickets:1-64, 2-90, 3-97, 4-133, 5-137, 6-177, 7-194, 8-238, 9-304.

Did not bat: PM Seelaar

Bowling: S Kelly 8 0 60 2 (5w), J Robinson 7 0 48 0 (1w), R Leverock 10 0 39 1, J Tucker 10 1 59 1 (1w), R Trott 10 0 43 2 (1w), I Romaine 5 0 46 2 (1nb, 1w).

Bermuda

D Hemp c Smits b Schiferli 81

L Cann b ten Doeschate 21

F Crockwell lbw b Mudassar Bukhari 23

S Outerbridge c Smits b Mudassar Bukhari 25

G Blakeney c Zuiderent b Seelaar 42

I Romaine run out (de Grooth/Reekers) 11

J Tucker c de Grooth b Seelaar 2

J Robinson b ten Doeschate 10

R Trott not out 10

R Leverock c & b ten Doeschate 5

S Kelly not out 0

Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 4) 11

Total: (for nine wickets; 50 overs) 241

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-70, 3-104, 4-158, 5-172, 6-182, 7-203, 8-231, 9-241.

Bowling: E Schiferli 10 1 58 1 (1w), RN ten Doeschate 10 2 51 3 (2w), Mudassar Bukhari 10 0 38 2 (1w), DJ Reekers 10 0 47 0, PM Seelaar 10 0 40 2.

Umpires: GAV Baxter (New Zealand) and IL Howell

Match referee: RS Mahanama (Sri Lanka)

Reserve umpire: IN Ramage (Scotland)