Netherlands go one up on Scotland

A team performance helped Netherlands beat Scotland in the first one-dayer of the three-match series between the two. Netherlands began slowly with the bat before lifting themselves to a competitive 252 for 9; for Scotland, it was the opposite - they looked on course at 157 for 2 in 32 overs, but then fell away rapidly.

They lost three wickets for four runs, including their two set batsmen Hamish Gardiner and Preston Mommsen, to wobble at 161 for 5. The slide didn't stop there, as they lost their remaining batsmen also in quick time to be bowled out for 208. The bowler who had triggered the slump was seamer Mudassar Bukhari, and he went on to finish with the best figures for Netherlands: 3 for 21 in nine overs. He got good support from fellow seamer Paul van Meekeren, who claimed 3 for 40 in his 10.

With the bat, it was the two Michaels, Swart and Rippon, who ensured Netherlands kept fighting. They could not get any momentum in the first 15, scoring just 54 in that period after the early loss of Stephan Myburgh, but Swart ensured they at least had wickets in hand. That meant Rippon could come in at the end knock off an unbeaten 49 in 47 balls, and carry Netherlands to what was eventually a winning total.