Bermuda 1st innings 183

Netherlands 1st innings 152-0

Irving Romaine fashioned a genuine skipper's innings by hammering a chanceless century (103) on day one of Bermuda's Intercontinental Cup match with hosts Netherlands at the rural Volharding Rap Amstels Cricket Club in Amstelveen yesterday.

But by the close of play the Dutch were firmly in control at 152 without loss in reply to the visitor's 183 all out in 59 overs.

Romaine's second Intercontinental Cup century overshadowed an otherwise miserable day for Bermuda who failed to come to grips after being sent into the bat against a varied Dutch attack on an uneven track and later failed to make inroads with the ball.

After a slow start, the veteran batsman's confidence soared as he poked holes in the Dutch's attacking field.

The unflappable Romaine lashed 14 fours and two massive sixes during an enterprising 127-ball knock that provided his team's innings with the impetus needed to post a respectable total.

Leg spinner Mangesh Panchal proved to be a thorn in Bermuda's side as he collected a remarkable five-wicket haul and was largely credited for the tourist's collapse after the luncheon interval.

Seamers Edgar Schiferli and Mudassar Bukhari provided good support by seizing two for 33 and two for 29 respectively.

Openers Alexei Kervezee (69) and Tom de Grooth (79) both hit half centuries and remained unbeaten at the crease when stumps were drawn having already set a new Dutch partnership record for the first-wicket in 37 overs.

Grooth survived a difficult chance at mid-wicket off the bowling of left arm spinner Dwayne Leverock in the 18thover to deny Bermuda any success with the ball in the final session.

Earlier, Holland's gamble to send Bermuda into bat on a pitch offering variable bounce paid huge dividends as the visitors were dismissed just minutes prior to tea.

Bermuda found themselves in early trouble after opener Stephen Outerbridge was caught behind playing loosely at a Bukhari delivery that moved fractionally off the seam without scoring.

It was then left to fellow opener Dwight Basden (22) and number three bat Jekon Edness (15) to continue seeing the shine off the new ball. Together the pair added 18 runs in nine overs before a technically sound Edness was caught at second slip after getting an outside edge to a delivery that stood up from a good length.

James Celestine (six) and Basden soon followed. Celestine was caught behind pushing forward to a delivery from seamer Maurits Jonkman while Basden - who gathered four boundaries before he became undone at the crease - gave an easy catch at silly mid-on playing across the line as the Dutch continued to exploit the new ball.

A 22-run fifth-wicket stand between Lionel Cann (15) and Romaine momentarily revived the Bermuda innings. But in typical fashion Cann - who hit three boundaries - was caught attempting to clear the boundary ropes on the onside to leave the visitors reeling at 86 for five at lunch.

Romaine and Bailey's Bay team-mate Roderick Masters (two) added a timely 36 runs for the sixth wicket in 59 minutes on the resumption of play, with the former completing his half century off 70 balls with a sizzling on-drive that raced to the mid-on boundary for four in the 43rd over.

But after facing 48 consecutive dot balls a watchful Masters was trapped leg before three overs later as the Dutch tightened the noose.

Bermuda's bats then continued to fold as they lost four additional wickets in the space of 57 runs to keep their hosts firmly in command.

The burly Dwayne Leverock - who received some close attention around the bat from the Dutch umbrella - was judged leg before to a delivery from leg spinner Mangesh Panchal that looked to be pitched down the leg side after scoring seven runs. St. David's Islanders Arthur Pitcher Jr. (one) and George O'Brien Jr. (0) also went cheaply as two wickets fell without any addition to the total.

Romaine, who reached the triple-digit milestone in the 57th over with an outside edge that evaded the outstretched glove of wicketkeeper Jeroen Smits and raced to the vacant third man boundary for four, and tailender Ryan Steede (four) added 48 runs for the tenth-wicket to steady the ship somewhat.

But the curtains finally came down on Bermuda's innings on the last ball of the 59th over when Steede was bowled behind his legs playing back to a Panchal delivery to become the bowler's fourth victim during his second spell, bowling from the northern end of the ground.

Play resumes today.