Evans, Munsey help Scotland draw level

George Munsey's 41-ball 100 was the fifth fastest in all T20Is
May 20, 2021

Scotland 172 for 4 (Munsey 79, Kingma 2-23) beat Netherlands 171 all out (Edwards 56, Evans 5-43) by six wickets

A century stand between George Munsey and Dylan Budge saw off early jitters in a low scoring chase for Scotland, helping them ease to a six-wicket win over Netherlands.

Munsey top scored with an unbeaten 79, the No. 6 batter steadying the ship after Netherlands reduced Kyle Coetzer's side to 66 for 4. At that point, they still needed 106 more to wrap up the win in the second ODI in Rotterdam. The Dutch bowlers failed to make any further inroads, though, with the visitors cruising to the target with nearly eight overs to spare.

Experienced pace bowler Alisdair Evans set up the chase after Netherlands opted to bat. Wickets off successive deliveries got rid of opener Max O' Dowd and Ben Cooper, before he returned to run through a tail that offered little resistance.

Evans would end with a career-best 5 for 43, with Dutch wicketkeeper Scott Edwards the only batsman to offer notable resistance with a half-century. It helped his side limp on to 171, but it wasn't enough to prevent the home team from being bowled out with eight balls to go.

The chase would begin steadily enough for Scotland, with Coetzer and Mathew Cross ensuring no wickets fell in the first Powerplay. But with the score on 34, they'd be rocked as Netherlands picked up three wickets without a further run being added to the score.

The openers and Calum MacLeod were all back in the pavilion, with Vivan Kingma and Paul van Meekeren responsible for the breakthroughs. Richie Berrington had his defences breached shortly after by Philippe Boissevain, bringing Munsey and Budge together out in the middle.

There was no further drama as far as Scotland were concerned, the pair steadily knocking off the runs. With the target as low as 172, the run rate was never likely to be a problem, and with Netherlands failing to break the partnership, the chase ended up becoming as stroll. It ensured the series would be drawn 1-1, after Netherlands had won a rain-affected opening game by 14 runs.

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