> Full Scorecard from Canada v Netherlands

Canada got their World Cup campaign off to a promising start with a four-wicket victory over The Netherlands in a warm-up match at the Global Cricket Academy in Dubai on Sunday, but it was a disappointing performance by a Dutch side which was without injured skipper Peter Borren.

Things went badly for the men in orange from the outset; put in to bat after Ash Bagai won the toss for Canada, they lost openers Alexei Kervezee and Wesley Barresi to two strikes by Khurram Chauhan in the space of the first five overs.

Eric Szwarczynski and Tom de Grooth set about rebuilding the innings, but when Bagai introduced Harvir Singh Baidwan into the attack he removed Szwarczynski with his second delivery and the Dutch were again in trouble at 37 for three. Bas Zuiderent soon followed, but then De Grooth and Atse Buurman produced the best partnership of the innings, putting on 45 for the fifth wicket.

Slow left-armer Parth Desai removed both of them with consecutive deliveries, however, and the Netherlands were on a precarious 98 for six, struggling to set a reasonable target with two new batsmen at the crease. De Grooth had made 41 from 49 balls with six fours, while Buurman’s 30 came from 47 balls.

Brad Kruger and Mudassar Bukhari added 32 in twelve overs, but when leg-spinner Balaji Rao dismissed Bukhari and Pieter Seelaar soon afterwards, the writing was on the wall. Kruger (25) and Adeel Raja were both run out, and the innings closed on 151, the Dutch having committed the cardinal sin of failing to use more than five overs of their allotted portion.

There were two wickets apiece for Chauhan, Baidwan, Patel and Balaji Rao, with the latter’s two for 12 from six overs the best figures.

The Netherlands were given hope, though, when Bukhari had Hiral Patel caught behind by Buurman with the very first ball of the Canadian reply, and with John Davison trapped by the same bowler in his third over the Netherlands were clawing their way back into the game.

Bukhari struck again in his next, Ravindu Gunasekera providing a second catch for Buurman, and Canada were 17 for three.

Ash Bagai made 20 before he became Buurman’s third victim, off the bowling of Berend Westdijk this time, and at 35 for four the game was in the balance. But Zurbin Surkhari was now joined by Jimmy Hansra, and these two added a precious 41 for the fifth wicket, Surkhari eventually falling to Adeel Raja for 23.

Hansra continued in tandem with Tyson Gordon, adding another 58 before Bukhari returned and induced Gordon, on 25, to edge to Buurman, a fourth wicket for both bowler and keeper. Only 18 were now needed, however, and there was room for Hansra to reach a maiden half-century for Canada as he and Rizwan Cheema saw their side home without further loss and with more than ten overs to spare.

Hansra’s not-out 52 came from 85 deliveries with five fours and a six.

Bukhari’s four for 17 was a fine effort for the losing side, while Bernard Loots was economical with none for 23 from ten overs.