The Netherland's Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea looks likely to be decided tomorrow after 16 more wickets fell on day two, Lega Siaka giving the visitors a good start to a 305 run chase after the Dutch tail had put the hosts in a good position.

Ball again dominated bat early on the second day at Amstelveen, the Netherlands attack taking just 18 overs to find the final four PNG wickets. The visitors had resumed six down for 103 and added just one more run before Timm van der Gugten trapped PNG skiper Jack Vare in front to claim his fifth scalp of the innings, and then struck again four overs later to remove Reva with PNG on Nelson - his eventual figures of 6-29 the best ever claimed in a First Class game at the ground. The visitors managed just 18 more runs for the last two wickets, conceding an 81 run first innings lead as they were bowled out for 128.

Van der Gugten was to be the day's stand-out performer with bat in hand as well, striking his maiden First Class half-century to dig his side out of something of a hole after they had been reduced to 110-7. PNG opening pair Willi Gavera and Loa Nou had made short work of the top order, and after a brief recovery spearheaded by Wesley Barresi and Michael Rippon John Reva and Mahuru Dai started the wickets tumbling again. Dai had Rippon caught behind down leg for 36 before Reva trapped Peter Borren LBW next over, and dismissed Barresi in the same fashion for 43 with the Dutch still 4 short of triple figures. Pieter Seelaar was then run out backing up in an almost comically unfortunate manner, Dai spilling a tough return catch off van der Gugten directly into the stumps at the bowler's end.

Van der Gugten made good use of his reprieve and an improving surface however, putting on a crucial 83 run stand for the eighth wicket with Paul van Meekeren before the latter was well caught at gully by Dai off Reva for 33. Van der Gugten went in the next over for 57, pulling Gavera low to midwicket where Siaka took a tough catch on his ankles, but some fine strokeplay from numer ten Quirijin Gunning saw the Dutch extend their lead past 300, eventually bowled out for 223.

Gunning was to rather undo his good work after the resumption however, as he provided his share of the generally wayward bowling on offer for the PNG openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka. Siaka especially took full advantage of a flattening track and some buffet bowling as the visitors raced toward 50 at better than a run-a-ball. Paul van Meekeren eventually found enough bounce to extract a steepling top-edge from Ura and sub-fielder Ben Cooper took and excellent running catch coming in off the square leg boundary, but Siaka was undeterred. Nine overs into the innings he was on 47 from just 26 balls, and the Dutch lead back under 250. A well earned half-century was to be denied him however, as Max O'Dowd was brought on to bowl his first over in international cricket and the last over of the day, and Siaka couldn't resist a swipe across the line at the spinner, his leading edge finding the hands of Micky Swart coming in from mid-wicket to finish the days play.