ICC Europe/CricketEurope

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Switzerland took a chance after winning the toss against Belgium at Rastignano on Tuesday morning, inviting the strong Belgian batting line-up to take first use of the wicket. And it was a gamble which failed to pay off, as Belgium ran up a total of 257 for five in their 35 overs, and then bowled the Swiss out for 186 to win by 71 runs.

For the tactic to work Switzerland needed early wickets, but Jonathan Aron and Fraser McRae gave their side another great start, putting on exactly 100 in their opening stand before Aron was caught by George Gaillet off James Hadden’s bowling for 32.

McRae continued batting splendidly, adding 48 for the third wicket with Shamin Shah (18), and then went on to make 84, from only 72 deliveries with 12 boundaries, before he was caught by Hadden off the bowling of Luca Illien, who had again shed the wicketkeeping pads to bowl off-spin.

At this point the Belgians had reached 182 for four, and with Naman Parikh contributing a rapid 27, including two fours and two sixes, and then Devendra Bhandari (29 not out) and Shalin Shah (36 not out from just 24 balls, with six fours and a six) sharing an unbroken stand of 66 for the sixth wicket, Belgium were able to set a target which always seemed likely to be beyond the Swiss batsmen.

Most of the bowlers came in for some heavy punishment, but Jakob Andrews was both economical and effective, taking two for 10 in three overs.

The Swiss reply began with a moment of sheer brilliance, Jonathan Aron taking an outstanding diving catch at point in the opening over to remove Hadden before he had scored. It was an effort which would have graced any match at any level of the game, and it set the tone for some excellent catching, in a tournament which has been more notable for chances put down than for those taken.

Bhandari was responsible for two of them, both at slip, and in general the Belgians took their chances in the outfield as well as close to the wicket. It made all the difference, and although the Swiss batsmen battled well, the bowling and fielding kept them under constant pressure.

Merrenmage Fernando played a fine innings to restore the Swiss fortunes after they rapidly sagged to 10 for two, hitting eight fours in a 40-ball knock of 42, and after he was out Wadan Yousafzai took over, combining rather unconvincing defence with some splendid aggressive strokeplay, making 62 off 56 balls, with eleven fours and one six, before he was last out, run out in the 33rd over.

But wickets fell regularly at the other end, Naman Parikh taking four for 11 and Viral Kothari two for 17, and when Yousafzai failed to make his ground running off a wide, the innings closed on 186.