Scotland 148-4 (L Jack 54*, LK Bennett 1 for 24) beat The Netherlands 60-8 (SL Kalis 12, M McColl 3 for 22) by 62 runs (DLS method)
Scotland claimed their fourth win in succession at the T20I Quadrangular Series with an emphatic victory over the Netherlands at Deventer. Another fine display with the bat was followed by a dominant all-round performance with the ball as Steve Knox’s side made short work of the tournament hosts, who remain winless with one match remaining.
The Netherlands, fresh from conceding 213 against Ireland yesterday, were under pressure from the start. Scotland captain Sarah Bryce hit the ground running, taking 7 from the first over then 8 from the second as the scoreboard raced to 25-0 after three. Bryce’s particular blend of class and temperament was again on show as Silver Siegers’ first four deliveries were sent to the rope to take Scotland to 46-0 after four and the run-rate to nearly two-a-ball.
Bryce’s seventh four at the start of the fifth brought up the Scotland fifty, but the following delivery finally stopped the onslaught as the wicketkeeping all-rounder mistimed a full toss from Annemijn van Beuge to Lisa Klokgieters at mid-on. Her half-century yesterday had proved the difference against Thailand; with 41 off 19 deliveries today, Bryce had set the tone again in blistering style.
At the other end Lorna Jack was also hitting her stride, moving into double-figures with a lovely cut behind point for four off the final ball of the over. Becky Glen looked in ominous form as she, too, found the boundary, slog-sweeping over deep midwicket before turning neatly round the corner for another. A fine pick-up and throw from Eva Lynch at third man caught Glen (14) short of her ground, but new batter Priyanaz Chatterji joined Jack in taking Scotland on to 99-2 at the halfway point.
Chatterji used the scoop to good effect in her run-a-ball innings of 9, but a misjudgement saw her bowled behind her legs by slow left-armer Leonie Bennett off the first ball of the eleventh. The wicket gave the Netherlands renewed hope, and with Bennett, Iris Zwilling and the returning Siegers keeping things tight, Jack and Ellen Watson struggled to get the ball away. The next six overs brought only 20, and when Watson (8) was caught in the covers at the start of the 17th, Scotland had been pegged back to 119-4.
The next ball relieved some of the tension as Jack cut for four, however, and with Ruth Willis (13*) providing support, the experienced opener brought up a deserved fifty with a three through point off the final ball of the 19th. Off 53 balls, with four fours, her first T20I half-century had anchored the innings superbly; Scotland, on 148-4, were in a strong position.
Their strength then turned to dominance as the Netherlands top order crumbled in the face of some excellent Scottish bowling. Babette de Leede (2) picked out Ellen Watson at square leg midway through Katherine Fraser’s first over, while Annemijn Thomson (4) was caught by Hannah Rainey to give Megan McColl her first wicket of the day in the fourth. McColl (3 for 22) struck again in the sixth as Sterre Kalis (12) was well caught by Fraser, and when Juliet Post (9) offered the Arbroath seamer a return catch in the eighth, the Netherlands, at 37-4, were all but out of the contest.
Samantha Haggo (2 for 10) claimed a first wicket in the ninth, and with Bennett (6) picking out Becky Glen for Haggo’s second, Iris Zwilling (8) bowled by Fraser (2 for 6) and Lisa Klokgieters (1) bowled by Priyanaz Chatterji (1 for 1), the Netherlands innings had imploded long before the rain which confirmed Scotland’s 62-run win on DLS arrived.
The tournament will be decided tomorrow with the final matches of the double round-robin format. Scotland, in second place in the table on NRR, will look for a second victory over Ireland to close the gap on Thailand, who must beat the Netherlands to be sure of first place. Whatever may happen, though, Scotland, buoyed by victories against three of the sides which will contest Group B of the Global Qualifier in a little over a fortnight’s time, will leave Deventer in confident mood.
