Haq, Davey star in Scottish win
Scotland and Netherlands, two of the top Associate nations, celebrated the ICC’s reversal of its decision on excluding Associates from the 2015 World Cup with a hard fought ODI game at Mannofield Park, Aberdeen. It was Scotland though that edged past the home team by 15 runs to take a 1-0 lead in two-match series.
The Scottish win was scripted by off spinner Majid Haq and right arm medium J Davey who shared seven wickets between two of them after their batsmen had given them a competitive total of 255 to defend. The fighting reply from the Dutch team was led by Tom Cooper who was last man to be dismissed for a 103-ball 75 but couldn’t get big shots away in the end overs. He also failed to farm the strike when tail-enders were batting, and, consequently, his team fell 15 short off the target.
Cooper found a capable alley in number eight Mudassir Bukhari who slammed three sixes and as many fours to contribute heavily in 59 run stand between the two for the seventh wicket. Davey though got his wicket at a crucial juncture following it with Peter Seelar’s to make sure tail didn’t wag for the home team. It was Haq though who reduced the Dutch to 157 for 5 from a comfortable 119 for 2 by ripping heart of middle order. He ended with his spell with the returns of 4 for 33 and undid the good work done by Dutch top order.
After losing V Barresi early, A Kerveeze combined with opener N Kruger to add 60 for the second wicket following it with another 40 in Cooper’s company. Haq’s introduction not only slowed the flow but also took sting out of Dutch chase. Cooper fought valiantly though but, save for, Bukhari didn’t get the required support.Earlier, an all-round batting performance led by opener Kyle Coetzer helped tourists to put up a 250-plus score. Coetzer and his partner Fraser Watts gave a their side a decent opening start of 86 runs following it with 56 for the second wicket before a middle order collapse that saw them lose four wickets for 38 runs. It needed some late order hitting from P Mommsen and R Berrington to take Scotland to 255.
Coetzer hit five boundaries in his 92 ball stay for 62, innings that was punctuated some crisp strokes straight down the ground. Watts looked good for his 33 before becoming Scottish skipper Peter Borren’s first victim. Number three C Macleod played a breezy knock of 35 to have Scotland well placed at 142 for 1 in 28th over. The introduction of Heggelman pegged Scotland back big time with right arm medium claiming the wickets of both Coetzer and Macleod in space of three overs.
Left arm spinner Peter Seelar added to Scottish miseries by J Davey stumped and Heggelman had another one to his kitty by removing N McCaullum to have visitors in spot of bother at 180 for 6 in 41st over.
A breezy stand of 44 between Mommsen and Berrington that saw both of them mix aggression with some sensible batting was instrumental in bringing Scotland innings back on the track. G Drummond hit a six and two fours in his nine-ball 20 to make a crucial contribution in the end overs to take score past 250.For Netherlands, Heggelman had impressive figures of 3 for 29 in the six overs while Borren claimed three wickets in his ten conceding 52.
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