NETHERLANDS COMPLETE REMARKABLE RUN CHASE DESPITE SHARIF HISTORY

The Netherlands completed the hightest-ever associate run chase to defeat Scotland, despite Safyaan Sharif becoming his nation's number one all-time wicket taker.

 

Set 370 to win, following a record-breaking 191 from George Munsey - the highest ever ODI score by a Scotland Man - the Dutch chased their target down in the final over, behind a stunning, unbeaten 158 from Max O'Dowd.

 

Sharif's dismissal of Michael Levitt was his 259th of his Scotland career, surpassing Majid Haq's 258 for the record - but ultimately Scotland's record-breaking day went the way of the Netherlands.

 

Matthew Cross said: "It's not an ideal ending, but I think the way George (Munsey) played was outstanding and something really special, and I think we need to acknowledge that, and I'm really happy for him.

 

"We did the first bit really well, the second bit we didn't do so well, but I think you've got to give a lot of credit to the Netherlands, that's a serious chase.

 

"To chase down scores of over 350 takes some serious batting, Max (O'Dowd) did a great job of batting through, and the guys around him played really nicely, and they deserved to win the game."

 

 

Munsey added 58 and 65 with Charlie Tear (23) and Brandon McMullen (21) respectively, his half-century coming in 54 balls as Scotland started strongly against a Dutch side coming off three consecutive defeats.

 

Liam Naylor (14) and Finlay McCreath (9) both fell cheaply as Scotland slipped from 123-1 to 162-4, Michael Levitt impressing through the middle with the ball as the Netherlands fought back.

 

That brought Matthew Cross to the crease alongside Munsey, the pair combining for what seemed to be a match-altering partnership, adding 160 runs in just 100 deliveries.

 

Munsey went to his third ODI hundred, and fifth in international cricket from 94 deliveries, before then moving into second gear – his next 91 coming in just 57 balls.

 

He would also become the fourth Scottish man to reach 5000 runs in capped games, joining Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer and Calum McLeod to that mark.

 

It was a brutal, destructive innings with Munsey particularly punishing the Dutch spinners with the slog-sweep, at one point taking Roelof Van der Merwe for 16 runs in three balls – his knock containing 14 fours and 11 sixes.

 

 

He was superbly supported by Cross who recorded his first ODI half-century since 2023, striking a fluent 49-ball 59.

 

Michael Leask would add a late flourish, clearing the boundary three times in his unbeaten 28, helping Scotland to 369-6 – Munsey eventually departing in the penultimate over to Vivian Kingma.

 

Levitt and Max O’Dowd got the Dutch pursuit off to a flier, Levitt taking Mackenzie Jones for three fours in four balls, the duo adding 66 in the opening nine overs.

 

The introduction of Safyaan Sharif brought about the breakthrough, Levitt (44) edging to Brandon McMullen to hand Sharif his record-breaking wicket.

 

 

He struck again in his next over, Zach Lion-Cachet (3) picking out Munsey, to leave the Netherlands 75-2.

 

Scott Edwards and O’Dowd stabilised the innings, taking their side to 143, before Mark Watt made the breakthrough to dismiss Edwards for 32.

 

Barresi fell for just 13, caught well by McCreath at deep cover off the bowling of Jones, to leave the Netherlands 168-4 just after the halfway point.

 

O’Dowd and Nidamanuru added 111 for the fifth wicket – O’Dowd reaching his hundred from 94 balls, and Nidamunuru going to his 50 from just 39 deliveries – as they took their side with 91 as the final 10 overs began.

 

 

Charlie Cassell made the vital breakthrough, Nidamanuru pulling a short delivery straight to McCreath on the leg-side boundary, to depart for 51.

 

A 29-ball half-century from Noah Croes, alongside O'Dowd, took the game away from Scotland - and despite Sharif removing Croes, O'Dowd sealed the victory with a straight six from the second ball of the final over.