MICHAEL LEVITT FIRES DUTCH TO 17-RUN WIN

Scotland Men suffered a second loss in as many days, as they were defeated by a Michael Levitt-inspired Netherlands by 17 runs.

 

Levitt struck a 56-ball 90 to help the Dutch post 198-7, and set Scotland what would have been their highest-ever T20i chase - but despite a Brandon McMullen half-century, and a brutal 46 from Michael Leask, the Scots fell short on 181-9.

 

It was Teja Nidamanuru who caused the damage with the ball - only bowling because of an injury to Viv Kingma, having bowled just five overs in the Topklasse this season - but he took the prized wickets of George Munsey, Richie Berrington and McMullen.

 

Berrington said: "We felt we were right in there to chase that target, especially with the short side and the wind, which was pretty hard to defend.

 

"It was a really good knock from Michael Levitt in the first innings, they got off to a bit of a flier, but I thought in the later phase we managed to pull it back quite well.

 

"We knew we were going to have to bat well, we probably needed someone to push on and get a 60 or 80, to keep us in it right to the end."

 

 

It was Max O’Dowd, alongside Levitt, who got the Dutch innings off to a flier, finding the boundary five times in his 10 balls - but he fell to Jasper Davidson for 21, Charlie Cassell taking the catch running back from mid on.

 

Nidamanuru lasted just three balls with the ball, miscuing Cassell’s first delivery to Munsey at mid off.

 

Levitt was looking in imperious form at the other end, taking a liking to the short leg-side boundary as he twice hoisted McMullen away for six.

 

He reached his half-century from 33 deliveries – the first man to reach that mark in the series – as he added 75 for the third wicket alongside Scott Edwards.

 

 

Cassell struck once again to make the breakthrough, trapping Edwards LBW for 31 as he attempted to sweep, before Croes fell to Mackenzie Jones, to leave the Dutch 132-4.

 

Scotland were starting to peg the Dutch back, Munsey taking a superb catch on the boundary to dismiss Vikramjit Singh (6) off the bowling of Leask – before he was involved again as Davidson took the big wicket of Levitt (90).

 

A late flurry from Ryan Klein, who planted Cassell away for back-to-back sixes to end the innings, saw the Netherlands reach 198-7 – leaving Scotland requiring a record T20i chase.

 

 

It was a chase that started in disastrous fashion, with Mark Watt run out for just six – Levitt initially losing sight of the ball behind him, before recovering to dive at the stumps before Watt made his ground.

 

Munsey and McMullen added 50 for the second wicket, before the former came unstuck, caught low down by Aryan Dutt off the bowling of Nidamanuru.

 

Berrington also fell to Nidamanuru for just two, caught on the leg-side boundary by Noah Croes, and when McMullen fell in similar fashion for 51, the Dutch were well on top.

 

 

Daniel Doram trapped Finlay McCreath LBW for just 10, to leave Scotland 107-5 - requiring 91 from 52 deliveries.

 

Leask gave Scotland hope, clearing the boundary on five occasions, including back-to-back sixes off Doram, but he lost partners in Matthew Cross (13) and Chris Greaves (11), as the required rate grew.

 

And when Leask perished, caught by O'Dowd at long on off the bowling of Roelof Van der Merwe, the Dutch victory was secured.