ABU DHABI // The Netherlands and Hong Kong clinched the two remaining spots at the 2014 World Twenty20 yesterday to earn their place on the plane for to Bangladesh along with Ireland, Afghanistan, Nepal and the UAE.
The Dutch chased down 147 to beat Scotland after Hong Kong had secured their place with victory over Papua New Guinea earlier in the day, both at the Zayed Cricket stadium.
Wesley Barresi led the run chase for the Netherlands with a superb 75 not out and, deservedly, the winning runs came off his bat when he drove the medium pacer Safyaan Sharif to the cover boundary to seal an eight-wicket triumph.
“It was an overriding feeling of relief,” Peter Borren, the Netherlands captain, said of the result, coming 24 hours after they had lost to the UAE in their first attempt at qualifying.
“I think we should have been in the top six definitely and hadn’t we done it today we would have been very, very disappointed.”
It was a complete turnaround performance by the Dutch in chasing Scotland’s 147 for six, winning with more than two overs to spare after they had collapsed in pursuit of 117 against the UAE.
“We were really, really disappointed the way we went about the other day against the UAE,” Borren said. “The players showed real good character to bounce back and win against a strong Scotland side today.
“We played more positive cricket than in the previous game. We tried to score runs unlike the other day where we tried to survive. We showed a bit more of the talent what we have got today.”
Apart from the fifth-place match against Hong Kong today, next on agenda for the Netherlands is the 50 over-a-side ICC Qualifier in New Zealand on January.
“That’s the next big thing for us now that we have just accomplished our goals by qualifying for the T20 World Cup,” Borren said.
“But we are really proud what this group has done without some of the bigger names.”
Scotland had got off to a poor start, losing both openers, Calum Macleod and Richie Berrington, within seven deliveries with one run on the board.
Matt Machan (61) and Michael Laesk (58), came together to rebuild the Scotland inning with a superb 111-run stand for the third wicket in 14 overs.
Machan’s 53-ball knock contained seven maximums and Laesk smashed five sixes and a couple of fours for their side to put up a challenging 147 for six at the end.
The Netherlands lost opener Stephan Myburgh (0) in the very first over that brought Baresi to the crease.
The South African-born wicketkeeper-batsman, 29, shared a 67-run stand for the second wicket with Ben Cooper (40 off 28 balls) and saw them through without any further hiccups in the company of Michael Swart (30 not out).
Hong Kong became the fourth Asian team after the Afghanistan, Nepal and the UAE, to win a ticket to Bangladesh.
Babar Hayat contributed with the bat while Muni Dar and Haseeb Amjad bowled well for Hong Kong to get the better of Papua New Guinea by 29 runs.
Hong Kong were struggling at 19 for four when Hayat, who top scored with 48, rebuilt the innings with useful contributions from Dar (22) and Mark Chapman (28) for their team to post 137 for nine.
Papua New Guinea had an awful start with the opener Asad Vala (0) run out in the first over with one run on the board and the medium pacer Tanwir Afzal had the No 3 Christopher Kent (7) trapped in front at 19.
Dar (three for 26) and Haseeb Amjad (two for 18) then took five wickets between them as PNG were bundled out for 108.
apassela@thenational.ae
