Having made sure of the tri-series with a near-miraculous win yesterday, The Netherlands ended the competition on a low on Saturday, losing to Bermuda by six wickets.

For the Bermudians, stung by the criticisms of coach Gus Logie, it was a great end to an unhappy week, as they bowled the Dutch out for 91 in 26.4 overs, and then took just 17 overs to knock off the runs for the loss of four wickets.

The architects of Bermuda’s spectacular victory were opening bowlers Kevin Hurdle (three for 30) and Man of the Match Saleem Mukuddem (four for 40). They both bowled unbroken spells of ten overs, and by the time they had completed their stints The Netherlands had been reduced to 72 for seven, effectively 72 for eight with captain Luuk van Troost forced to retire hurt after being hit on the arm by a short ball from Hurdle.

The pitch, which had been used for all three matches in Benoni and which had shown signs of variable bounce from the beginning, certainly played worse in this match than in either of the others, and its deterioration raises serious questions about the decision of the local organisers to play all three matches on the same strip.

But that takes nothing away from the fine aggressive bowling of the Bermudian seamers, who maintained a steady line and exploited the conditions to the full, nor does it provide an excuse for some further undisciplined batting by the Dutch, who continued in Friday’s vein with considerably more disastrous results.

First to go was Bas Zuiderent, who immediately after hitting Hurdle through cover point for a fine boundary, got under a rising ball and top-edged a catch to Stefan Kelly at deep backward point. He was soon followed by Eric Szwarczynski, who edged Mukuddem to Dwayne Leverock at second slip.

Ryan ten Doeschate and Daan van Bunge got the total through to 46, but then four wickets fell for two runs in 16 balls, with Mukuddem bowling van Bunge, and Hurdle having ten Doeschate and de Leede caught behind off consecutive balls.

Peter Borren did not last much longer, although he was given out caught off what seemed to be a bump ball to Clay Smith in the slips. When van Troost ducked into a short ball from Hurdle and was forced to leave the field, The Netherlands were effectively 51 for seven.

Alexei Kervezee was next to go, mistiming a pull off Mukuddem to give him his fourth victim. The question now seemed to be whether The Netherlands would be able to surpass their lowest-ever ODI total, 86 against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2003, but Jeroen Smits and Mark Jonkman worked the ball effectively against Leverock and Kelly, seeing the score through to 88 before Jonkman was bowled by Kelly.

Muhammad Kashif helped Smits add another three before the innings closed on 91, the second lowest Dutch score in an ODI.

Given the vagaries of the wicket, another collapse was not out of the question, and Dutch hopes were raised when ten Doeschate trapped Smith leg before with the final ball of his opening over.

Minors skied Jonkman to Szwarczynski at deep third man with the score on 13, and when de Leede had Steven Outerbridge well caught at mid-on by Zuiderent and Bermuda were 24 for three, it seemed that the bowlers might have the last laugh.

David Hemp now joined captain Irving Romaine, and after surviving a huge appeal for leg before off the first ball he received from ten Doeschate, he set about the Dutch bowlers. Romaine, too, was in attacking mood, and they added 44 in just four overs with a succession of powerful strokes.

Romaine was eventually leg before to de Leede with the total on 68, but Hemp maintained the onslaught in partnership with Janeiro Tucker, adding 26 in three overs to see Bermuda home. Hemp finished with 36 not out, made from only 18 balls, with six fours and a six.

This overwhelming victory earned Bermuda a bonus point, but they remain third in the three-team competition. For The Netherlands, this match was a disappointing coda to a successful week, and it suggests that there is still a very long way to go in developing the team’s potential.

The Bermudians will be hoping, meanwhile, that their improved performance has at least won them a stay of execution.

Bermuda now return home, but for Canada and The Netherlands there is still Intercontinental Cup business in the agenda, with a four-day game commencing at Sinoville, Pretoria on Tuesday.