The Netherlands recovered from their traumatic defeat by Scotland on Thursday with a comprehensive 117-run victory over Kenya at Westvliet on Saturday, on a day which steadily shifted from sub-tropical humidity to more typical North European chill and drizzle.

The change in the weather took its toll both on the Kenyans and the pitch, the latter having started out as inconsistent and becoming gradually less predictable. But if Kenya had the worse of the conditions, they were in part the victims of Maurice Ouma’s decision to bat second, while the Dutch could thank Alexei Kervezee and Tom Cooper for the fact that they had a decent total to defend.

These two added 123 for the second wicket, enabling the Netherlands to recover from the early loss of Eric Szwarczynski and giving their side a great basis at 139 for one in the 28th over. Kervezee, playing what will probably be his only match in the tournament, was in devastating form, racing to his highest ODI score with 92 from just 89 balls and hitting 11 fours and one six. He welcomed Hiren Varaiya into the attack by plundering 20 from his first over, although the Kenyan left-armer fought back well, conceding only 15 from his next four.

Cooper was more sedate, but he duly reached his third half-century in as many matches and went on to 67 from 98 deliveries. He and Wesley Barresi again had a useful partnership, putting on 53 for the fourth wicket, but when Cooper fell leg-before to Jimmy Kamande it was the trigger for a dramatic Dutch collapse.

The last seven wickets, indeed, fell for just 33 runs, Kamande the principal architect with four for 36, his best return in ODIs. Only Mark Jonkman was able to take the bowling on, and when he was bowled by Kamande the innings closed on 229.

With rain threatening, Kenya reached 22 before Mudassar Bukhari struck, Alex Obanda edging to keeper Atse Buurman in the fourth over. Mark Jonkman got several deliveries to rear alarmingly, and with Maurice Ouma run out the Kenyans were in some difficulty by the time the weather intervened.

There was a delay of around an hour, and Kenya’s troubles were heightened immediately after the resumption when Jonkman trapped Francis Otieno in front. Collins Obuya and Rakep Patel battled on courageously, adding 48 for the fourth wicket, but when Cooper bowled Obuya it proved to be the beginning of the end.

Kenya were now well behind on the Duckworth/Lewis count, and with play continuing through the drizzle their situation steadily became worse. Kamande did his best to hold things together, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. The innings ended on 112, Kenya’s lowest ODI total against Associate opposition, with two wickets apiece for Peter Borren and Adeel Raja, the latter ending with the impressive figures of 4 – 2 – 3 – 2.