After encouraging performances by Ireland and Scotland against England and Pakistan in June’s ODIs between Affiliate nations and Test opponents, attention now shifts to Amsterdam, where The Netherlands take on Sri Lanka in the two-match Nachenius Tjeenk series.

Given that Sri Lanka arrive in Amsterdam straight after a five-nil demolition of England, the Dutch might be forgiven for thinking that they have drawn the toughest assignment of all, but it goes without saying that they will be determined to give as good an account of themselves as their rivals in the High Performance Programme.

The Sri Lankans had a fairly relaxed work-out this morning at the match venue, VRA’s picturesque ground in the Amsterdamse Bos. With its woodland setting, and preparations less elaborate than they were for the Videocon Cup two years ago, the ground has never looked better – more Arundel this time than Chester-le-Street.

Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody and his staff joined the players in a lively game of touch rugby, in which fast bowler Lasith Malinga revealed previously unsuspected talents as a scrum-half.

‘We’ve had two hard months of cricket,’ Moody said, ‘with lots of batting and bowling, and today was all about helping the players relax after a long day travelling yesterday, before they start focussing on tomorrow’s match.’

Moody is certainly not taking the final two ODIs of the tour lightly.

‘These matches are always a potential banana-skin,’ he acknowledges, adding that ‘the Dutch are a dangerous side with talented players, and they’ve been developing a more professional attitude to international cricket.

‘For us, the challenge is to continue the winning momentum – we have no intention of treating these matches as a rest. On the other hand, we’ll be able to give opportunities to one or two members of the squad who’ve played less cricket recently.’

One opportunity will be provided by the absence of Chaminda Vaas, who finished the England series with a hamstring strain. He will not play in either game this week, which will probably give a further chance to left-armer Ruchira Perera, who played in only one of the ODIs against England.

But Sri Lanka will have their leading wicket-taker in that series, Lasith Malinga, and their batting line-up, with Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya and captain Mahela Jayawardene all having made two centuries against England and compiled more than 300 runs apiece, is formidable.

They are, of course, vastly more experienced than the Dutch, who have played fewer than 50 one-day internationals between them. Nine of the fourteen players named by coach Peter Cantrell are in line to make their ODI debut this week, with only captain Luuk van Troost, wicketkeeper Jeroen Smits, Bas Zuiderent, Daan van Bunge and Tim de Leede having previously played at this level.

Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate is available for tomorrow’s match, however, and will bring his rapidly-accumulating first-class experience into the equation. He made 63 not out when Essex beat the tourists at Chelmsford last month, and he has proved over the past year what a difference he makes to the Dutch side.

Zuiderent is likely to have a new opening partner in Eric Szwarczynski, who did well against the MCC last week, and with van Bunge, ten Doeschate, de Leede, youngster Alexei Kervezee and possibly Peter Borren to follow, the Dutch batting line-up looks pretty strong.

The main worries are in the bowling, with Edgar Schiferli injured and Darron Reekers undergoing another fitness test today. Reekers and Billy Stelling will hopefully form the sharp edge of the Dutch attack, while de Leede bowled a fine spell against the MCC last Friday. Borren and van Troost will provide medium-pace support, and the spin department comprises left-armer Pieter Seelaar and off-spinner Mohammad Kashif.

With a forecast temperature of 32 degrees in Amsterdam tomorrow, everything seems set for the great day’s cricket. The prospect for Thursday is less savoury, with rain threatening to disrupt proceedings.

Our photograph is cortesy of VRA Cricket.