ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

SCOTLAND v NETHERLANDS In bowler-friendly conditions, Ryan Watson, the Scots captain, decided to field first, a decision which looked questionable as Alexei Kervezee and Tom de Grooth batted well to put on 48 for the opening partnership. Neither John Blain nor Dewald Nel could make much impression but the appearance of Paul Hoffmann at first change immediately produced a wicket as Kervezee edged to Watson at second slip. Hoffmann bowled seven overs for six runs and should have had a second wicket, but Simon Smith failed to hold a diving catch offered by Nick Statham. The latter, however, gave another chance to the wicketkeeper off the bowling of Nel which was accepted. Nevertheless, the Dutch had the better of the first session to take lunch on 98 for two. The afternoon saw nearly all the Dutch batsmen survive for 40 minutes or more, get into double figures and then get out, as Blain and Hoffmann induced a succession of false shots. Some spectacular catches were held, notably Blain’s above his head off his own bowling to remove Aatse Buurman, and Neil McCallum’s, held on the dive, to dismiss Geert Mol. These, however, were exceptions as Scotland dropped ten catches, mostly behind the wicket and in the slips. Although The Netherlands were all out for a moderate total close to the end of the first day; it could have been even lower if the chances had been held. De Grooth benefited from three lives whilst accumulating his highest first-class score. Having survived two overs the night before without mishap, Scotland began slowly and poorly against an inexperienced Dutch attack on the second morning. Mudassar Bukhari bowled four consecutive maiden overs but the wickets fell to Somesh Kohli and Mol, both to good catches by the wicketkeeper. A stupid mix-up between Watson and Omer Hussain led to the run-out of the latter and Scotland being three wickets down for 55. Watson and McCallum then batted splendidly, carefully at first but gradually obtaining almost total control over the Dutch attack. The exception was Bukhari whose 18 overs went for only 41 runs. Watson was initially the more aggressive, reaching his century from 137 balls, but McCallum raised his scoring rate in the afternoon, passing his half-century with four fours and one six. The Dutch, handicapped by an injury to Peter Borren which prevented him from bowling, tried eight bowlers without being able to break the partnership. They were saved by rain which stopped play with 30 overs remaining in the day, by which time McCallum was three runs short of his hundred, the partnership had amassed 222 and Scotland had a lead of 22 runs. The third-wicket partnership reached 240 before Watson nudged a delivery from Kervezee to Mol at gully. McCallum then received good support from Majid Haq to add a further 73 runs; he was eventually the ninth batsmen out, mistiming a pull shot from Bukhari. In an innings of just over seven hours, he faced 254 balls and hit 19 fours and 3 sixes. His runs were made at a strike rate of 71.2. Scotland’s total of 452 gave them a lead of 197 runs. Nothing in the way Scotland batted and the Dutch bowled either prepared or accounted for what happened next. Against aggressive pace bowling from Blain and Hoffmann, the Dutch capitulated. A brief stand of 42 for the sixth wicket by Bukhari and Mol avoided complete humiliation but it was a dismal performance. 122 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08