The Netherlands and Essex batsman Ryan ten Doeschate became the third player to reach 1000 Intercontinental Cup runs on Saturday as the Dutch made 343 for nine on the third day of their game against the UAE in Sharjah.

He and opener Bas Zuiderent dominated the first two sessions after Alexei Kervezee went early on, recording a second-wicket stand of 232 – a first-class record for The Netherlands for any wicket.

Ten Doeschate got to his milestone as he completed his sixth century in the competition, and his 11th in first-class cricket. Remarkably, this innings was only his tenth in the Intercontinental Cup.

The other batsmen who have chalked up 1000 runs are Kenya’s Steve Tikolo and Arshad Ali of the UAE, who is also taking part in this match. Namibia’s Gerrie Snyman will have an opportunity to join the exclusive club in the second innings of his side’s current game against Scotland: he stands on 959, having made just 4 in the first innings.

Ten Doeschate was eventually caught on the boundary for 146, attempting to reach his 150. He faced 187 balls, hitting 20 fours and six sixes.

Zuiderent had by this time posted his own century, his second in first-class cricket and his first for his country; the other he had scored in only his second match at this level, playing for Sussex against Nottinghamshire in 2001. He had gone on to a career-highest 149 not out by the close, having faced 273 balls, with five fours and two sixes.

The Emirates bowlers fought back in the final session as the Dutch sought to accelerate the scoring rate in their effort to fight back from their 2-run deficit on the first innings, giving their bowlers a platform on which to bowl the Emiratis out on the last day and pick up the 14 points for an outright win.

Eight wickets fell after tea, only Peter Borren reaching double figures, but nevertheless 125 runs came off 32 overs, enabling skipper Jeroen Smits to consider an overnight declaration in a bid to force the win.

Arshad Ali was again the most successful of the Emirati bowlers with three for 99, while Mohammed Tauqir and Khurram Khan picked up two each.