SCOTLAND FALL TO NETHERLANDS FOLLOWING KALIS ONSLAUGHT
Scotland Women opened their T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign with a nail-biting defeat to the Netherlands, as a stunning 60-ball 87 from Sterre Kalis fired her side to victory.
Kalis scored over half of her side's runs, and was the only Dutch batter to pass 20, as the Yorkshire batter carried her side to 157-6.
Scotland were always in touch in the chase, as Katherine Fraser (41), Kathryn Bryce (42) and Sarah Bryce (30) all made significant contributions - but Heather Siegers was superb at the death, conceding just three when defending 11 from the final over.
Scotland Captain Kathryn Bryce said: "It was a fantastic game of cricket, and I think it shows big players standing up on the big stage. We were able to make it close in the end, and there were good performances from a lot of players, but there were a few moments that were the difference in the end.
"We talked about how on this pitch, 160 is probably about par with a good outfield and good wicket, so we definitely felt in the game at the halfway stage. There were a lot of good performances from a lot of people, but we probably just didn't have that one who went that one step further."
Opting to bat first, the Netherlands lost Iris Zwilling (5) and Heather Siegers (18) in the powerplay, but Kalis was able to build substantial partnerships with both Babette De Leede and Frederqiue Overdijk.
Kalis and de Leede added 49 for the third wicket, but when de Leede (18) and Robine Rijke (0) fell in quick succession, the Netherlands were 77-4 in the 13th over.
At that stage, Kalis was on 24 from 28 deliveries - but added 53 with Overdijk in little over five overs, as she struck 63 from her next 32 deliveries.
Rachel Slater was the standout with the ball for Scotland, taking 3-24 from her four overs, but Kalis' terrific knock ensured the Netherlands would post an imposing 157-6.
Scotland lost Darcey Carter (2) in the second over of their reply, but Katherine Fraser raced to 38 from 21 deliveries, at one point dispatching Iris Zwilling for four boundaries in the space of five balls.
Fraser and Kathryn Bryce added 60 before the former holed out for 41, picking out Zwilling on the long-off boundary off Caroline de Lange.
Kathryn Bryce and her sister Sarah added 52 for the third wicket, as Scotland stayed in touch in pursuit of 158 - but with four overs remaining the Scotland skipper fell for 42, to leave Scotland still requiring 39.
That was reduced to 11 from the final over, despite losing Sarah Bryce and Megan McColl, but Heather Siegers delivered a superb over, as neither Ailsa Lister or Priyanaz Chatterji could find the boundary.
Scotland are next in action on Thursday 22 January against Zimbabwe, from 0715 GMT.