What a Tri-series of T20 cricket action it has been for the past week in Netherlands as all three nations involved in the tournament (Netherlands, Ireland & Scotland) have displayed good skills with both bat and ball in all the matches held so far. There even has been a Tie (should have been decided by the Super Over as per ICC playing conditions) so far!!
The final match has now eventually become a virtual Final as Scotland kept their chances well alive by defeating their host’s comfortably in the 5th game. Scotland chased down the target of 161 set by Netherlands, by reaching there in the 18th over with 7 wickets in hand.
Both teams now play out the final match and the winner will be crowned the Tri-series Champions. Ireland are already done with their games in the event, having won a single match out of their total 4, losing two and the tied game against Scotland.
Brief Scores:
Netherlands 160/6 in 20 overs (Wesley Barresi 53, Max O’Dowd 31, Tobias Visee 25, Ben Cooper 22, Alasdair Evans 2/32, Mark Watt 1/18, Richard Berrington 1/9) lost to Scotland 161/3 in 17.4 overs (Richard Berrington 49, George Munsey 46, Kyle Coetzer 42, Fred Klassen 1/29, Pieter Seelaar 1/31) by 7 wickets
It’s a shame that the match will be Scotland’s final scheduled fixture for the rest of 2018 for now and with their players starting to perform heavily & consistently, will definitely welcome some matches against fellow Associates or Full members in the coming months.
Netherlands still have a T20 Tri-series against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Nepal at the end of July 2018 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in UK, followed by two ODI’s against Nepal at home.
Scotland batting line-up will once again be the key to their success if they go on to win the final game, with runs expected from Munsey, Coetzer, Berrington & Co. The bowlers would look to restrict Netherlands to around or below the 140 mark.
Netherlands could bring in Roelof van der Merwe for the crucial match and with Barresi in good form upon his return and bowled as well, picking up maiden T20I wicket in the process, will look to put on extra 15-20 runs on board and put more pressure in the first 10 overs to claim advantage.
