Orange fight to the last: 148-142
Published at 08 July, 2025The Netherlands narrowly lost the T20 World Cup qualifying match to Scotland. The Dutch limited the Scots at 148 and came close, but the runchase ran aground at 142/7.
After being beaten twice by Aryan Dutt, the dangerous George Munsey pulled the reverse sweep out of the bag on the third ball. The top edge disappeared into the hands of Noah Croes at slip: a dream start for ‘Oranje’.
Scotland seemed to be able to accelerate from time to time - including through a partnership of Hairs (52) and Tear (32) for the fourth wicket - but Roelof van der Merwe (2-25), Kyle Klein (2-27) and especially Bas de Leede (3-17) kept the pressure on with a lot of variety. Before the game the Orange would probably have signed for the 148/9 with which Scotland got off the field.
Innings Netherlands
Scotland soon dismissed Max O'Dowd and Zach Lion-Cachet. Michael Levitt made 22. Scott Edwards (20) was dropped at five. Two balls later, he played the same shot for six before he hit a top edge in the hands of the short fine leg.
Parallel to the fall of expensive Dutch wickets, the required run rate increased sharply. However, Noah Croes and Roelof van der Merwe (20) kept the Netherlands in the game with a quick partnership of 49 for the seventh wicket.
Thanks to a well-made half-century from Croes (52 not out), nineteen runs were requested from the last over, twelve from the last three balls and ten from the last two. On 142/7 it was game, set and match for the Scots.
