Cricket: Dutch come up short against Scotland in T20WC qualifier

Brief scores: Scotland 148-9 (Hairs 52, Tear 32, De Leede 3-17) beat the Netherlands 142-7 (Croes 52*, Greaves 3-26) by six runs

In a match against the two pre-tournament favourites, and the highest-ranked sides at this Qualifier, the Netherlands ran out close second to Scotland going down by six runs at Voorburg.

Being down 75 for six in a chase of 149, Noah Croes and Roelof van der Merwe shepherded the Dutch through the middle-overs with a crucial 49-run partnership, with the former bringing up his maiden half-century in the format, but with 19 needed off the last over, it proved to be a bridge too far.

Scotland, having elected to bat first, were led by big-hitting opener Oli Hairs, who smashed six fours and a six in a 35-ball 52, and Charlie Tear’s 32 in a 59-run stand for the fourth wicket but unravelled in a stunning fashion.

With the Scots on 120 for three at the end of the 14th over, and a 170-plus total in sight, the Dutch bowlers executed their death over plans exceptionally to restrict them to 148-9, conceding only 27 runs off the last six overs and snaring six wickets.

Bas de Leede continued his stellar bowling form to pick three wickets in another miserly spell with Kyle Klein and Van der Merwe chipping in with two apiece at the death.

With the bat, the Dutch never quite got going in the chase, not helped by Max O’Dowd and Zach Lion-Cachet dismissed off consecutive balls in Brandon McMullen’s first over.

Captain Scott Edwards failed to capitalise on his second life, adding just 15 runs after being dropped on five by Tear off Mark Watt.

Having been reduced to 54 for five, and later 75 for six in the 12th over, Croes and Van der Merwe kept the scoreboard ticking with a major focus on running between the wickets, reiterating an emphasis on one of the KPIs of this Dutch team to run doubles.

The approach, in part, was informed by the outfield slowing down from the overnight rain, with a light drizzle at the backend of the game, and with Scotland’s boundary riders fielding exceptionally to stem the runs.

Despite running 26 twos – with Croes alone running 12, one more than the whole Scottish innings – doubles alone cannot win games.

A telling difference between the two sides was the lack of boundaries that pushed the Dutch to run as much as they did: Scotland hit 13 fours and four sixes to the Netherlands’ four fours and three sixes. Where the Scots scored 76 runs in boundaries alone, the Dutch could only manage 34.

“We gave ourselves a chance but it was tricky out there with a slower outfield at the end,” conceded Edwards after the match.

“The way [our bowlers] executed in the end was really good and gave us a chance. They (Scotland) were probably just above par with the bat. It was a tricky start for us [with the bat], they bowled really well but we just couldn’t get over the line.”

The Netherlands must now win both of their remaining matches against Guernsey on Wednesday, and Italy on Friday, to progress to the T20 World Cup next year.

Entry to the matches is free and can be live-streamed on ICC.tv.