The Netherlands took the honours on the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Canada in Rotterdam on Wednesday, but three late wickets by Zameer Zahir and Sandeep Jyoti brought the tourists back into the game.

Having bowled the Canadians out for 177 shortly after tea, the Dutch made a solid start in reply, reaching 44 before Wesley Barresi, playing for The Netherlands for the first time, edged Zahir to keeper Ashif Mulla for 32.

An out-of-form Eric Szwarczynski lasted just five balls before he was caught at short leg by Trevin Bastiampillai off Jyoti, and in the Canadian off-spinner’s next over Daan van Bunge perished in the same way.

Earlier, there were three wickets apiece for Peter Borren, Pieter Seelaar and Van Bunge as Canada again failed to build a substantial total.

They were on the back foot from the moment Mark Jonkman bowled Geoff Barnett with the fifth ball of the match, and although Jyoti held things together for a time with a patient 37, once he was out to make the score 72 for three, wickets fell at regular intervals.

Borren, who had accounted for danger-man Rizwan Cheema, also removed Qaiser Ali and Sunil Dhaniram, while Seelaar claimed the wickets of Jyoti, Bastiampillai and Shaheed Keshvani.

Mulla contributed a steadying 28, but it took him 90 balls, and he eventually fell to Van Bunge, who went on to take the last two wickets and finish with three for 11 from just 28 deliveries.

The second day will begin, then, with The Netherlands still 103 runs behind with seven wickets in hand, and opener Nick Statham batting with Tom de Grooth.

Thursday’s pre-lunch session will almost certainly be crucial in determining who takes the first-innings points in this game, with the Dutch looking to lay the foundations of a substantial lead and the Canadians hoping to take early wickets and regain the initiative.