Scotland suffered their first defeat of their Women’s T20 World Cup qualifying campaign, losing by 35 runs to the Netherlands.
Sterre Kalis was the only batter to pass 25 for either side, hitting a match-winning 68 from 55 balls as her side posted a total of 134-7, which ultimately proved too tough a task for Scotland.
Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce said: “Sterre batted really well through that period, and we put pressure on them, but probably not for long enough periods. I think on that pitch and with that outfield, we probably kept them to about par.
“We probably need to use the pitch and the bounce a little bit better going forwards, and we put ourselves under pressure losing wickets in clumps early on.”
The morning started well for the Scots, as Kathryn Bryce, returning to the side after missing the opening fixture, struck with just her second ball, trapping Iris Zwilling in front for just two.
That brought Kalis and Babette de Leede together, the former in particular producing some eye-catching strokes including a superbly struck six off Darcey Carter that landed directly in front of the sight screen.
De Leede was happy to play the supporting role to Kalis, who had moved to 40 from just 34 balls as the pair added 68 for the second wicket.
That partnership would be broken in the 12th over by Chloe Abel, picking up her first international wicket as de Leede’s aerial drive finding Kathryn Bryce at cover.
The impressive Kalis cleared the ropes with another powerful strike, this time from the bowling of Abtaha Maqsood, in the following over, before reaching a fine half-century.
Robine Rijke was the next to fall, bowled by Kathryn Bryce in the 15th over to leave the Netherlands 92-3.
Heather Siegers found the boundary twice early on, and with three overs remaining the Dutch had advanced to 118, with a total around 150 certainly within their sights.
Hannah Rainey had other ideas, firstly bowling Kalis for a fine 68 as she attempted to ramp over fine leg, and then removing the dangerous Siegers four balls later, finishing with excellent figures of 2-22.
Phebe Molkenboer and Eva Lynch struggled to accelerate their side’s scoring rate, with the former losing her wicket in the final over, run out after smart work from Megan McColl and Sarah Bryce.
The Netherlands would finish on 134-7, Carlijn Van Koolwijk losing her wicket off the final ball, caught be Darcey Carter as Chloe Abel picked up her second wicket to finish with 2-22.
The Dutch had scored just 16 runs for the loss of four wickets from the final three overs, to give Scotland the momentum heading into the interval.
However, that momentum would immediately be wrestled back by the bowling side, Ailsa Lister falling to just the third ball of the innings as she edged Iris Zwilling behind to de Leede.
After carving a couple of sweetly timed boundaries through the offside Darcey Carter fell for 12, holing out to Eva Lynch off Zwilling.
Sarah Bryce joined her sister Kathryn at the wicket, the pair advancing the score to 31 before the latter fell, Lynch taking a steepling return catch off her own bowling.
From that moment on Scotland failed to string together any meaningful partnerships, Sarah Bryce watching on as Priyanaz Chatterji, Lorna Jack and Maryam Faisal all fell to leave the Saltires 54-6, with the required rate climbing.
Bryce herself would then depart for 23, stumped by de Leede off Caroline de Lange as she looked to take on the bowling.
Chloe Abel, who top scored with 25, and Megan McColl looked to take the game deep, adding 38 for the eighth wicket including a flurry of late boundaries, before both fell in quick succession to Phebe Molkenboer.
Hannah Rainey would also fall to Molkenboer, caught on the boundary by Rijke, as Scotland were bowled out for 99.
Craig Wallace’s side will be looking to bounce back tomorrow when they face France at 1430.
