With Man of the Match Bas Zuiderent leading the way with an undefeated 76, The Netherlands opened their World Cricket League campaign with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Canada at Ruaraka Sports Club on Tuesday.

In a morning of fluctuating fortunes the Dutch fought back well, taking Canada's final five wickets for just three runs as they dismissed their opposition for 200 in 44 overs.

Earlier, it had been Canada's turn to recover, as they fought back from 17 for two and 68 for four, largely thanks to a solid innings of 75 from Ashish Bagai, his highest in ODIs. He and Ashif Mulla put on 71 for the fifth wicket, and then Bagai and Sunil Dhaniram added a further 55 for the sixth.

The Dutch bowlers shared the early wickets, Edgar Schiferli securing the vital scalp of skipper John Davison and Darron Reekers dismissing Abdool Samad caught and bowled without addition to the score. Then Billy Stelling disposed of Qaiser Ali and Desmond Chumney to leave the Canadians in some disarray.

The middle section of the innings belonged to the Canadians, and at 142 for four with sixteen overs left they seemed to have regained the upper hand. Even after Tim de Leede had Mulla caught behind by Jeroen Smits the runs continued to flow, and with the total on 193 for five after 41 overs a total approaching 250 was on the cards.

Then Luuk van Troost brought ten Doeschate back into the attack, and he immediately removed Dhaniram and Bagai with successive balls, both caught behind. Bagai went to a superb diving leg-side catch by Smits.

Stelling trapped Andy Cummins leg before in the following over, and although Umar Bhatti avoided the hat-trick, he fell from the fifth ball of ten Doeschate's next, giving Smits his third catch of the innings. Kevin Sandher edged the next, making four catches for Smits and figures of four for 31 for ten Doeschate, his first four-wicket haul in ODIs. Stelling finished with three for 41.

The Netherlands never seemed in trouble as they set out in reply, Zuiderent and Darron Reekers putting on 59 for the first wicket in just 10 overs before Reekers, on 39 from 29 balls with eight boundaries, was caught behind by Bagai off Osinde's bowling, swinging at a lifting ball down the leg side.

This brought in van Troost, who had promoted himself up the order. He carried on where Reekers had left off, and with Zuiderent continuing to bat confidently, these two added 72 for the second wicket. Van Troost made 38 before dancing down the wicket to Osinde and being clean bowled.

Zuiderent brought up his third ODI half-century two overs later, and he and ten Doeschate saw their side through to the win with 15 overs to spare. Zuiderent's 76 not out, made off 103 balls with 11 fours, was his highest ODI score, while ten Doeschate made a solid 37 not out in support.

The Canadian seam attack received little encouragement from the pitch, and Osinde and Cummins in particular came in for some heavy punishment from the Dutch batsmen. Davison and Sandher contributed reasonable spells without looking likely to take wickets but, somewhat surprisingly, Sunil Dhaniram was not brought into the attack at any point.

This decisive win gets The Netherlands away to a great start in the competition, and will give them confidence for tomorrow's clash with hosts and tournament favourites Kenya. Canada will need to regroup before taking on Scotland.