SCOTLAND DEFEAT DUTCH WITH TERRIFIC FIGHTBACK
Scotland Men earned their first win of the series with an impressive 44 run victory over the Netherlands.
The win required a remarkable recovery from the Scots, who found themselves 97-6 batting first - but 81 from Fin McCreath, 60 from Mark Watt and an unbeaten 36 from Safyaan Sharif saw their side to 262-9.
In response, the Netherlands lost regular wickets throughout, unable to build a significant partnership at any point - Brandon McMullen the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for a second-straight game.
Finlay McCreath said: "It's good (to get the first win), especially after the close game we had against Nepal the other day, getting back to winning ways, it was a really good day.
"We lost a few early wickets, but they bowled well and the pitch was offering a little bit so it was a tricky time to get going, and I just had to dig in.
"We bat so deep so just tried to get a couple of partnerships, luckily Watty (Mark Watt) and I managed to get some momentum back, he played amazingly well, and then Saf (Safyaan Sharif) obviously came in at the end and hit some awesome sixes to get us up to a good score."
Paul Van Meekeren and Kyle Klein did the early damage for the Dutch as they reduced Scotland to 43-3 inside 10 overs, removing the top three of Charlie Tear (7), Brandon McMullen (9) and George Munsey (26).
The spin duo of Aryan Dutt and Roelof Van de Merwe then picked up the mantle, the former dismissing Richie Berrington (15) and Matthew Cross (8), whilst Van de Merwe did for Michael Leask (4).
That brought together McCreath and Watt together with 27 overs of the Scotland innings still remaining, and their side in danger of being bowled out cheaply.
Watt was the aggressor as the pair rebuilt the innings, pulling Kyle Klein for six early on, and he would be the first to 50 – his first in ODI cricket.
McCreath also went to his 50 – his second of the series – in the 41st over, but Watt fell in the following over, LBW to Zach Lion-Cachet for 60, with Scotland 188-7.
Jack Jarvis fell cheaply to Klein (2) before Sharif joined McCreath to add 55 runs in just 29 deliveries – Sharif striking three sixes in 18-ball 36.
McCreath was bowled by Van de Merwe in the final over for 81, the highest score of his fledgling international career thus far, a knock that carried Scotland to 262.
The Dutch pursuit of 262 started in style, stand-in skipper Max O'Dowd taking 21 from just the third over of the innings.
However, he fell in the following over for 23, chipping the ball straight back to McMullen who took a simple return catch.
McMullen struck again to remove Vikramjit Singh, the left-hander chipping tamely to McCreath on the leg-side.
Scotland spurned chances to make further inroads – including a wicket off a Jarvis no ball – as Michael Levitt and Lion-Cachet took their side to 78.
Sharif then struck to remove Lion-Cachet (13), edging behind to Cross, and the dangerous Levitt (35), chopping on, to give the Scotland quick his 256th wicket for his country – tying him second-all-time with Craig Wright, just two behind Majid Haq.
The Netherlands had slid to 97-5 when Mark Watt got in on the act, trapping Wesley Barresi in front for just 13.
Teja Nidamanuru and Noah Croes added 36 for the sixth wicket, before both fell in quick succession, Croes (26) caught at the wicket off Mark Watt, and Nidamanuru (17) holing out to Munsey on the leg-side boundary off the bowling of Jasper Davidson.
Klein and Van der Merwe showed some resistance, adding 32 for the eighth wicket to take their side to 176, but McMullen's return brought about Klein's downfall, before Dutt fell cheaply to Leask.
Jasper Davidson would wrap-up the Scotland victory, yorking Van Meekeren as the Netherlands were bowled out for 218.