Netherlands humiliate Scotland

Both sides were already eliminated, but this game was billed as the big one for these two sides. Many had top ranked associate nation Scotland as favourites after Hollands’ two huge defeats at the hands of Australia and South Africa. All expected a close, high quality game though. Not how it turned out, as the Dutch came out all guns blazing and crushed the lacklustre Scots.

Veteran seamer Billy Stelling (8-3-12-3) tore through Scotland’s top order and Bas Zuiderent and Ryan ten Doeschate played high quality innings to show how good the Netherlands actually are and rout a Scottish side who people expected more of.

Following winning the toss and putting the Scots in to bat, the Dutch ripped through the Scottish batting. Navdeep Poonia edged the second ball of the day to wicketkeeper Smits to give Stelling his first wicket and pre-empt the collapse. The Scots soon found themselves at 15-4 as Haq was bowled by Reekers for 9, followed by Stelling trapping both Hamilton (4) and Brown (0) lbw with consecutive deliveries. Scotland’s dangerman Ryan Watson soon followed, caught and bowled by De Leede on 16.

There was no way back for the Scots, although Neil McCallum (24), Colin Smith (19), John Blain (18 not out) and Glenn Rogers (26) helped drag the Scots up to a half-respectable, though never enough 136. Mark Jonkmann and Mohammad Kashif both impressed with 2 wickets each.

John Blain struck early to remove Reekers (9) and give Scotland a faint hope, but but by the time he coaxed Szwarczynski (12) into edging to Smith, Holland were over a third of the way to the target. Zuiderent played a high quality innings to reach 43 off 56, as did Ryan ten Doeschate. The man who plies his trade for Essex in the English County Championship went on a boundary-fest, Ruthlessly punishing the poor deliveries for 68 deliveries before he finshed the game himself. In those 68 balls, ten Doeschate spanked 70 runs.

The Netherlands reached their target with 26 overs to spare, with ten Doeschate completing the rout in style with a four off a Majid Haq full toss.

Scotland 136 all out
Glenn Rogers 26, Neil McCallum 24
Billy Stelling 3-12, Mark Jonkmann 2-22

Netherlands 140-2
Ryan ten Doeschate 70*, Bas Zuiderent 43*
John Blain 2-29

Netherlands won by 8 wickets

Cricket Web Player of the Match – Ryan ten Doeschate 70* (68)