Haq and Bukhari enliven dour final day

Scotland's Majid Haq and Netherlands' Mudassar Bukhari recorded career-best figures with bat and ball respectively, as their ICC Intercontinental Cup fixture drifted to stalemate on the final day in Aberdeen.

With no play possible on the opening two days of the contest, personal milestones were the only real incentive for players on either side, and Haq - who had finished the third day on 89 not out - was the first to reach his, with a push into the covers off Peter Borren after an agonising 21-ball wait on 99.

Aside from Haq, however, Scotland's batsmen lacked the stickability of the third day. Having resumed on 237 for 3, they lost their last seven wickets for 72, with Bukhari sweeping through the tail with 3 for 9 in six overs to finish with 5 for 79 - his first five-wicket haul in all forms of senior cricket.

In reply, the Dutch openers Michael Swart and Neil Kruger ensured against a surprise finish by posting an opening stand of 140. Kruger just missed out on his hundred, being dismissed by Preston Mommsen's offspin for 91.

Bukhari then contributed a rapid fifty from the unusually high position of No. 4, and wickets tumbled as Netherlands made a mad dash to take bonus points with a first-innings lead. They couldn't quite get there, however, and two wickets fell in the final over of the day as Netherlands reached 306 for 8.