Max O'Dowd, bowlers lift Netherlands to victory against Scotland in rain-hit ODI
The opening batter's 82 helped Netherlands recover from 59 from 5
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-May-2021
Max O'Dowd now has three half-centuries in his first three ODIs • Peter Della Penna
Netherlands 163 for 8 (O'Dowd 82, van Beek 24, Main 2-16, Watt 2-28) beat Scotland 149 for 8 (Berrington 41, Munsey 27, Kingma 3-21, van Meekeren 2-28) by 14 runs
Discipline from their bowlers after an anchoring knock by opener Max O'Dowd lifted Netherlands to victory in a rain-hit first ODI against Scotland in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
The wet weather and outfield meant the game was reduced to 33 overs a side. Netherlands, batting first, were in deep trouble at 59 for 5 in the 16th over, with five of their top six out for 10 or fewer. But O'Dowd held firm at his end, steadying things with 82 off 102 balls. Logan van Beek provided some late thrust with 24 off 21. Pacer Gavin Main, who'd struck twice during Netherlands' early slide, produced the best of the figures for Scotland: 7-2-16-2.
In reply, Scotland seemed on track while Richie Berrington was around. They, too, had an early wobble - they fell to 31 for 3 in the 11th - but then Berrington took charge, scoring 41 off 43 with three sixes as Scotland rattled up 69 in the next 11 overs. George Munsey was accompanying him, but Netherlands struck a big double-blow when they got rid of both set batters within one run of each other. The score went from 100 for 3 to 101 for 5, and Scotland faltered from there, despite the best efforts of their lower order. They finished on 149 for 8, 15 runs short of their target.
van Beek and Vivian Kingma, Netherlands opening duo, took four wickets between them, allowing only 46 runs in 14 overs. They also accounted for the key wickets of Munsey and Berrington between them.
The two teams will play another ODI at the same venue on Thursday.
