Opener Tom DeGrooth (35) and Essex county player Ryan ten Doeschate (60) put Holland in a commanding position as play resumed after tea following a second rain interruption on the opening day of the four-day Intercontinental Cup match at the L.C.DeVilliers Oval in Pretoria.

The two players completed only the third century partnership in Holland's Intercontinental Cup history as they took their side onto 102 for one after 42 overs at the start of the day's final session.

Saleem Mukuddem has claimed Bermuda's only wicket of the day, clean bowling opener Bas Zuiderent for one with his very first ball.

But Holland, who need to take a maximum 20 points to maintain their hopes of qualifying for next year's Intercontinental Cup final, have been in control since.

With dark clouds still hovering above the ground an early finish to the day's play is anticipated.

Rain stopped play on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match between Bermuda and Holland at the L.C. DeVilliers Oval in Pretoria shortly after lunch.

Scores: Holland 91-1 after 37.2 overs (Tom DeGrooth 29; Ryan Ten Doeschate 54)

Holland fought back on the opening morning of their four-day Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda today, going into lunch at 83 for one.

Opener Tom DeGrooth was unbeaten on 48 and number three bat Ryan Ten Doeschate, who plays for Essex in the English county championships, unbeaten on 28.

In-form bowler Saleem Mukuddem had struck early for Bermuda, clean bowling Bas Zuiderent for one with his first delivery of the day.

But despite tight bowling, particularly from pacer Kevin Hurdle who sent down six maidens in an 11-over spell that yielded just 23 runs, DeGrooth and Ten Doeschate consolidated in an unbeaten 83-run stand that represented a second wicket partnership record for Holland in the Intercontinental Cup.

Dwayne Leverock gave up 37 runs in 11 overs (one maiden), Mukuddem returned four maidens in a nine-over spell that earned him figures of one for 18, while young Rodney Trott on his international four-day debut, conceded three runs in two overs.

Following superb work by groundstaff at the L.C. DeVilliers Oval inside the Pretoria University grounds, umpires Zama Ndamane and Karl Hunter were able to schedule an 11 a.m. start after it had been earlier feared that no play at all would be possible on the opening day.

Holland won the toss and elected to bat.

Bermuda got off to a flying start in their four-day Intercontinental Cup match against Holland this morning when the in-form Saleem Mukuddem struck with his first delivery of the day.

Mukuddem uprooted the off stump of Dutch opener Bas Zuiderent and after four overs Holland were seven for one.

Following superb work by groundstaff at the L.C. DeVilliers Oval inside the Pretoria University grounds, umpires Zama Ndamane and Karl Hunter were able to schedule an 11 a.m. start after it had been earlier feared that no play at all would be possible on the opening day.

Holland won the toss and elected to bat.

Teams (in batting order):

HOLLAND

Bas Zuiderent

Tom DeGrooth

Ryan Ten Doeschate

Daan Van Bunge

Alexei Kerezee

Peter Borren

Luuk Van Troost (captain)

Billy Selling

Jeroen Smits (wicketkeeper)

Pieter Seelaar

Muhammad Kashif

BERMUDA

Kwame Tucker

Stephen Outerbridge

Irving Romaine

Clay Smith (captain)

David Hemp

Janeiro Tucker

Saleem Mukuddem

Dean Minors

Rodney Trott

Kevin Hurdle

Dwayne Leverock

Umpires

Zama Ndamane (South Africa)

Karl Hunter (South Africa)