DUTCH SQUEEZE OUT SCOTS DESPITE MUNSEY HEROICS
Scotland fell to a 19-run defeat against the Netherlands in Amstelveen on Saturday in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter, despite a superb century from George Munsey.
Munsey smashed 106 but regular losses of wickets saw Scotland slide to a second successive defeat on this tour, after losing to UAE on Thursday. Richie Berrington’s team have a chance to avenge these losses when they face both sides again next week.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Netherlands made a steady start, reaching 90 within the first 15 overs.
Mark Watt then struck in the 12th over dismissing Michael Levitt (28) clean bowled, at the same time becoming the leading ODI wicket taker for Scotland.
Max O’Dowd (64), Zach Lion-Cachet (78) and Scott Edwards (70) made key contributions with the bat, building a formidable Dutch total.
Brandon McMullen claimed the crucial wicket of O’Dowd, striking with a perfectly executed yorker. Lion-Cachet followed, attempting to dispatch Jasper Davidson straight down the ground, instead landing the ball in the safe hands of Munsey.
The Scots showed character in the middle overs, with Bradley Currie leading the attack and returning figures of 4/52. Supported by disciplined spells of spin from Watt and Michael Leask, Scotland restricted the hosts to 282/7.
In reply, the Scots got off to a cautious start before Munsey took centre stage with an authoritative 106 from 101 balls, featuring crisp stroke-play and calculated aggression.
Despite wickets falling at regular intervals around him, Munsey kept the chase alive, reaching his century with Scotland still in contention. However the masterclass was cut short as he was caught behind off the bowling of van der Merwe.
Mathew Cross attempted to re-anchor the innings with a measured 47, before an unfortunate LBW dismissal. By now, the required run rate had climbed, and tight bowling from the home side in the final overs sealed the contest, with Scotland finishing their innings on 263/9.
The squad will look to regroup quickly ahead of their next fixture, with plenty of positives to take from individual performances and a committed team effort.