CRICKET INTERCONTINENTAL CUP:WITH EUROPE'S biggest Jazz Festival coming to town this weekend, it was apt that another fine solo blast from Andre Botha helped Ireland to a promising position on a rain-affected first day of this Intercontinental Cup clash in Rotterdam.

The North County player simply loves this competition, yesterday scoring his fourth century in five matches to rescue Ireland from a shaky start against the Netherlands as they made it to 226 for four when rain ended play for the day at 3.20pm.

Having been put in after losing the toss, Ireland were reduced to 25 for three as Mudassar Bukhari used the seamer-friendly conditions to remove the top three batsman in the opening 45 minutes.

Kevin O'Brien joined Botha at the wicket and the pair went about restoring order, adding 83 runs in the 78 minutes up to lunch to bring the score to 108 for three.

Botha moved to his half-century off 68 balls soon after the restart and brought up the century partnership with a cracking extra-cover drive off Edgar Schiferli.

Wary that Ireland needed a big stand, O'Brien was happy to play second fiddle, or should that be saxophone, and was more circumspect than usual.

The big-hitting Railway Union player still picked off the short balls, pulling Schiferli for six and also hitting eight boundaries to bring up his 50 off 88 deliveries.

Like so often happens, a short rain-break did for the partnership when they were in sight of an Irish fourth-wicket partnership in this competition; O'Brien hitting a full toss from Pieter Seelaar to mid-wicket where Maurits Jonkman took a smart catch to dismiss him for 79.

The pair had put on 159, just six runs shy of the mark set by Botha and Kevin's older brother, Niall, during the 2005 final against Kenya in Windhoek.

Botha, who made 97 the last time these sides met in this competition, almost perished on the same number again, wicket-keeper Jeroen Smits and first slip Nicky Statham making a hash of it between them after Botha nicked behind.

The 32-year-old pushed on to secure his fifth century for Ireland off 132 balls, with 15 boundaries, and had moved on to 103 before the rain that had threatened since lunch settled in for the evening.

Andrew Poynter looked very composed on his debut in this competition and had moved on to 19 not out in a partnership of 42 before play ended.

It was a frustrating end to a day that had brightened considerably for Phil Simmons's side as they attempt to close the gap on Kenya and Namibia at the top of the table.

With more rain forecast over the coming days, Ireland's chances of claiming the points to move them into second position may prove as elusive as the sun in Rotterdam yesterday.

In an effort to make up for overs lost, play will get under way half an hour earlier, at 10.30am, for the remaining three days of the contest.