In a tight, tense, rain-interrupted match in Utrecht on Thursday, the West Indies women tourists retained their unbeaten record with a 20-run victory over The Netherlands and take a 2-nil lead in the four-match series.

But there did not get there without being given a serious scare by a Dutch side which raised its game considerably over the previous day’s effort, taking full advantage of the conditions and twice seizing the advantage before their inexperience told and the touring side managed to escape an upset.

After winning the toss and giving the West Indians first use of the pitch in heavy, overcast conditions, Helmien Rambaldo was rewarded with a fine spell of seam bowling by Jolet Hartenhof, who removed Merissa Aguilleira, Stacy-Ann King and Nadine George – the latter splendidly caught by Caroline de Fouw – in successive overs to leave the tourists reeling on 23 for three.

Hartenhof was supported at the other end by Lotte Egging, who also bowled well without taking a wicket, and they were then succeeded by Marloes Braat and Denise Hannema, who maintained the pressure with economical spells.

Only Juliana Nero looked like mastering the conditions, and she stood firm as Hannema removed Charlene Taitt, and then the Dutch spinners Annemarie Tanke and De Fouw dismissed Debby Ann Lewis and Anisa Mohammed respectively.

The West Indies were now 74 for six, and the home side had the prospect of bowling their opponents out for a really low total.

Nero was still the only batsman to have reached double figures and the highest partnership was 25, but the tourists bat all the way down, and Kerbyina Alexander and Shakera Selman stayed with her long enough to enable her to reach her second ODI half-century.

She was ninth out, somewhat unluckily adjudged leg-before immediately after passing the fifty, having faced 105 balls in a fine display of resistance.

A run out brought the innings to a close on 144 in the 48th over, a more substantial total than had seemed likely halfway through.

Hartenhof finished with three for 29 – her best ODI figures – and there were two wickets each for Braat and De Fouw.

Rain delayed the resumption, and then interrupted the Dutch reply after six overs, with the score on 14 for one.

A long break resulted in the deduction of five overs, and a revised target of 138 from 45 overs.

Selman and Lewis caused the Dutch batsmen considerable difficulty, bowling with fine control and extracting a good deal of lateral movement, and there were three catches for keeper Aguilleira as the home side slumped to 21 for three.

Rambaldo and Tanke now set rebuilding the innings, and they gradually turned the game in The Netherlands’ favour.

The West Indies’ spinners, Anisa Mohammed and Gaitri Seetahal, kept things tight, but the Dutch pair, working the ball into the gaps in the field, got the total ahead of the D/L par score and, with the clouds lifting and the rain clearing away, kept the overall rate required below 3.5 runs per over.

The turning point came when Lee-Ann Kirby entered the attack, and almost immediately Tanke was drawn into a rash attempt at a lofted drive which succeeded only in sending the ball into the hands of Lewis at deep mid-off.

Tanke had made 36 off 69 balls, and the partnership stood at 70, the highest of the match.

And then, in the following over from Lewis, Rambaldo edged to Nadine George at slip, and the West Indian captain took a fine catch diving to her right to put the tourists back in charge.

Braat fell three overs later, attempting the same shot as Tanke, and 91 for three had become 99 for six.

Jacqueline Pashley did her best to hold things together, but the West Indians sensed that they now on top, and Alexander returned to finish the Dutch innings off.

She first removed Veringmeier, and then, in the space of the last four balls of the 40th over, it was all over.

Hannema rushed down the pitch looking for an impossible single and was stranded, Pashley edged to the keeper two balls later, and Hartenhof was bowled first ball to leave the Dutch 21 runs short of their target, the last seven wickets having fallen for 26 runs.

It was deeply disappointing for the home side, and a huge – and audible – relief to the West Indians. But the Dutch could be delighted that they had competed for so long, that their bowling and fielding had shown such great improvement, and that the middle order had got them into a winning position.

They are still one quality batsman short, and the lower order batting showed its inexperience in this match once Tanke and Rambaldo had gone.

West Indies have a fine, well-balanced attack, capable of maintaining the pressure and of taking full advantage of any weaknesses in their opponents. But this game demonstrated that they can be beaten, and the Dutch will go into next week’s matches in Deventer looking to build on what they achieved in Utrecht.