Dutch too much for Scots
Jun 15 2010 - 18:59:01
Ryan ten Doeschate took his excellent Essex county form into the one-day international arena to inspire Holland to a six-wicket victory over Scotland in Rotterdam.
The all-rounder hit a century against Middlesex earlier this week in the Friends Provident t20 and fell just short of recording another, eventually being dismissed for 90 in the 45th over.
By then, however, the Dutch were in control of their run chase after Scotland had managed a slightly below-par 235 for six in their 50 overs having won the toss and elected to bat.
Josh Davey of Middlesex opened the innings for Scotland in his debut ODI but was the first batsman to go, caught by Pieter Seelaar off the bowling of Peter Borren for 24.
Richie Berrington, Scotland's in-form player this season, then stroked a brisk 84 runs in only 92 balls, but wickets kept falling around him.
With no other player able to reach 50, the Scots failed to build enough partnerships to maintain the same kind of momentum at the other end.
Berrington, one of Scotland's full-time contracted players, was eventually the sixth batsman to fall, going to a catch by Worcestershire's Alexei Kervezee from the bowling of ten Doeschate, who finished with two for 38.
Matthew Parker claimed the early wicket of Eric Szwarczynski for nine, but even when the dangerous Kervezee was out caught and bowled by Berrington, the Dutch never looked in trouble.
Tom Cooper - who enjoyed a dream ODI debut for the Dutch - and ten Doeschate built what was effectively a match-winning partnership of 158 runs for the third wicket.
Gordon Drummond, Scotland captain for the first time in an ODI with Gavin Hamilton absent, did eventually take ten Doeschate's wicket thanks to a Qasim Sheikh catch when a century had looked likely but Cooper finished unbeaten on 80 to take the Dutch over the line with three balls to spare.