ICC World Cup Qualifier, Johannesburg:
Scotland 216-8 (50 ovs) beat Netherlands 188 (48.4 ovs) by 30 runs

Stander reaches his fifty at the University of Witwatersrand ground

Jan Stander made his highest score for Scotland as they revived their World Cup qualifying hopes with a 30-run win over the Netherlands in Johannesburg.

Stander hit two sixes and seven fours in an unbeaten 80 as they recovered from 59-5 to post a total of 216-8.

John Blain and Craig Wright were soon among the wickets as the Dutch slumped to 22-3 in reply.

And despite Bas Zuiderent making 67, they were all for 188 in the 49th over with seam bowler Blain taking 5-45.

"It's a good feeling (to win), especially when defending a small total," Man of the Match Stander said afterwards.

"We knew we had to bowl well - we also knew we had to field well and I think it's probably the best we've fielded in this tournament."

It was a fighting effort by Scotland, who looked in dire straits when Edgar Schiferli produced an inspired new-ball spell after the Dutch won the toss and chose to field first.

He struck first by having Kyle Coetzer caught at first slip for six and won an lbw verdict against Qasim Sheikh with his next delivery.

I was upset I didn't use my opportunity against Canada, but today I did use it and saw us nicely through the 50 overs, which was crucial Jan Stander

Scotland captain Ryan Watson managed only seven before he became Schiferli's third victim and the 32-year-old stuck again in his fifth over when Colin Smith departed for a second-ball duck, caught at second slip after a poor stroke.

"I think everyone struggles in the morning here, the first 20 overs. We've got to get back to the drawing board and think a little about shot selection," said Stander.

In-form Neil McCallum was next to go, edging a ball from Peter Borren to the keeper after making 12, but Gavin Hamilton, who had witnessed the carnage from the other end, finally found a partner to stay with him when Stander arrived in the middle.

Together they added 58 in 18 overs for the sixth wicket before Hamilton was bowled by Mudassar Bukhari for 52.

With only 16 overs of their innings remaining, the Scots were in urgent need of acceleration and Stander rose to the occasion magnificently.

Wright and Majid Haq both went cheaply, but Blain made a vital 29 not out as he and Stander added 96 to see the total beyond 200.

"I came in at a difficult time, which was a similar situation to that against Canada. I was upset I didn't use my opportunity against Canada, but today I did use it and saw us nicely through the 50 overs, which was crucial," Stander added.

Blain's accuracy was too much for the Dutch batsmen

Buoyed by their batting recovery, Scotland seized the initiative as Blain dismissed Darron Reekers and Edgar Szwarczysnki with successive deliveries.

Opener Alex Kervezee batted positively for his 36 but was then caught behind off Wright and keeper Smith claimed his seconmd victim when Dewald Nel found the edge of of Ryan ten Doeschate's bat.

The Dutch were still in the hunt after Zuiderent and Peter Borren put on 73 for the sixth wicket but the task of scoring 57 off the final eight overs proved beyond them after Borren was caught at long-on by Blain off Nel for 29.

Nel (3-24) followed up by bowling Bukhari and Blain cleaned up the rest, including the wicket of Zuiderent, to complete the win.

Scotland remain fifth in the Super Eight table, however, but level on points with Kenya and the Netherlands, the two teams above them.

Only the top four will qualify for the 2011 World Cup, which is due to be co-hosted in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

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