Driven by a gritty unbeaten half-century from Stephen Outerbridge, a disciplined bowling performance and a general mental toughness that hasn?t always been evident at this level of cricket, Bermuda took second-day honours in their Intercontinental Cup match against Holland at the L.C.DeVilliers Oval in Pretoria yesterday.

Under brilliant sunshine Bermuda ruled with both bat and ball, 23-year-old Outerbridge combining with Kwame Tucker for a record first class opening partnership worth 105 runs after the bowlers had ripped through Holland?s last seven batsmen for the addition of just 143.

The Dutch had begun the day in a commanding position on 235 for three and optimistic of posting a huge total in their quest for all 20 points which would keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next year?s cup final.

But those hopes were quickly dented in a morning session which saw four wickets tumble, and practically ruined as the remaining three fell after lunch.

Outerbridge and Tucker then rapidly rubbed salt in the Dutch wounds, thundering 44 runs off the first seven overs before the tea break in a lightning reply.

Requiring 239 to avoid the follow-on, Bermuda finished the day on 128 for two, the only blemish on a solid day?s work being the late dismissals of Tucker for 33 and Irving Romaine for 10.

Outerbridge was still at the crease on 61, his highest international score in the longer version of the game, while skipper Clay Smith had yet to get off the mark.

Cardiff University student Outerbridge and 30-year-old Tucker put on 105 in the first 31 overs to surpass Bermuda?s previous highest four-day opening partnership of 41 between Outerbridge and Delyone Borden against Canada in Toronto last summer.

It finally came to an end with little over half an hour of the day?s play remaining when Tucker edged into the hands of slip Ryan ten Doeschate, Holland?s first innings century hero, off the bowling of Peter Borren.

New bat Romaine also appeared to be getting the better of the Dutch attack but just four overs from the scheduled end he too perished, adjudged lbw to a ten Doeschate delivery.

Earlier in the day, Bermuda?s two spinners, Dwayne Leverock and Rodney Trott, the latter on his international debut, were largely responsible for the Dutch collapse, both finishing with three wickets.

Leverock drew first blood in the 83rd over ? the 10th of the day ? when he nailed Alexei Kervezee leg before for 16 to reduce the Europeans to 255 for four.

Three overs later Trott celebrated his first senior international wicket as new bat Peter Borren went for six, clipping into the hands of Kwame Tucker at silly mid-off. And when pacer Kevin Hurdle got in on the act, stooping low to hold a superb catch off his own bowling to dismiss Daan van Bunge for 39, the Dutch had been reduced to 285 for six.

It was soon 309 for seven as skipper Luuk van Troost was safely held at first slip by Janeiro Tucker off Leverock for 24.

However, two late partnerships after lunch swelled the Dutch total to beyond their expectations. Billy Stelling (33) and wicketkeeper Jeroen Smits (24) combined for a record Holland eighth wicket stand of 42 before Stelling was caught by a diving Smith off Trott at short mid wicket.

And then Smits and last man Muhammad Kashif added 26 for the final wicket, another Dutch record, before Trott ended the innings by clean bowling Smits in the 130th over.

Leverock?s marathon effort of 47 overs, including 12 maidens, produced three for 119 while Trott reaped three for 47 off 18.1 overs with one maiden.

Hurdle and Mukuddem claimed the remaining wickets, Hurdle recording figures of two for 88 off 29 (10 maidens) and Mukuddem two for 98 off 30 (seven maidens).

l Bermuda learned late yesterday that their scheduled one-day match against Canada in Potchefstroom, south of Johannesburg, this Sunday has been put back a day, meaning they will now have to play back to back ODIs on Monday and Tuesday (versus Holland).

Bermuda manager Lionel Tannock said no apparent reason had been given for the switch.