What a difference a day makes in Scotland. Yesterdays blazing sunshine and humbling defeat at the hands of the Dutch was replaced by a more typical example of Scottish weather (grey, cold and breezy from the start and only getting colder with the threat of rain ever present) and a better example of Scottish cricket ability.
If the weather conditions of yesterday had of been present today many people would have fancied The Netherlands chasing down Scotland's large total of 317.
The thought of rain due to arrive, and the need be above the par score when it did, lent a certain amount of panic to the dutch innings which was not helped when the first of the rain showers blew drizzle across the ground in the 5th over of their innings. They then lost their first wicket to the first ball of debutant Gavin Main, Myburgh caught behind for 27 off 15.
By the time the drizzle stopped in the 10th over two more wickets had fallen, Mohammad Wasim, (the former Pakistan international making his debut for The Netherlands after recently attaining citizenship), out L.B.W. to leask on a pitch that may have been spiced up by the rain for 6, and an embarrassing run out where both batsmen were at the strikers end asking the umpire who was out (Barresi judged out for a duck).
It all could have been over much sooner than it was for the Dutch if Wardlaw hadn’t dropped a dolly at mid wicket and Main had been able to claim the two catches taken off the no balls he bowled.
As it was the end came soon enough with a steady tumble of wickets putting them out of contention in this game before heavy and persistent rain forced them from the field with the score on 7/115 in the 23rd over.
The Dutch were in no position to attempt to challenge the Scottish total of 317 even if rain had allowed more play but at 5:30 the game was called off with no further play permissible giving Scotland the win by 144 runs.
Scotland's large total came courtesy of a superb innings from Callum Macleod. After losing the toss and been sent in to bat by the Dutch, openers Coetzer and MacLeod set about making amends for yesterdays mauling by building a solid platform in much the same way as they had yesterday. After setting a good tone Coetzer was out in the 7th over, flashing hard at at a shorter one from Malik to be caught by a good tumbling catch by Szawarczynski at third man for 22.
MacLeod set his mind to guiding the innings by batting through to end with a stylish 145 off 124 balls. He was bowled by Malik in the penultimate over chasing more quick runs to add to the total. By the time MacLeod was out Scotland had amassed 309 of their eventual 317 and MacLeod’s job was done.
It wasn't all plain sailing for the Scots as twice the crafty Dutch bowling made inroads into their batting. When Coetzer was out in the 6th over Gardiner was out soon afterwards with an edge to keeper. The reliable Mommsen joined forces with MacLeod to steady the ship and form the biggest partnership of the game adding 92 for the third wicket before he too fell to the bowling of Malik.
Later in the innings Davie and Leask were both out an over apart to leave Scotland on 6/223 in the 38th over leaving MacLead with the tail. Memories of yesterdays collapse must have been close to the surface but, today, under grey skies the tail rose to the challenge and added 86 off the final 10 overs (despite being bowled out in the last over) to finish on 317 all out.
Ashan Malik finished with the best figures for the dutch claiming regular wickets to finish with 6 for 50 of his 10 overs but despite his heroics with the ball could do little to stop the Scottish charge.
The three game series now stands at one victory each with the decider to be played on Friday.
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