Off-spinner Majid Haq took 4-33 to lead Scotland to a 15-run victory over The Netherlands .
Dutch throw away a winning position
Off-spinner Majid Haq took 4-33 to lead Scotland to a 15-run victory over The Netherlands in their first ICC Intercontinental Cup one-day international in Aberdeen.
Haq did the damage as the tourists lost their final four wickets for 11 runs when looking on course for victory.
Josh Davey claimed three wickets, bowling Australia-born Tom Cooper for 75 to wrap up victory, as Scotland dismissed the tourists for 240 with an over remaining, having posted 255-7.
Cooper's measured knock was complemented by quickfire contributions of 49 and 41 from Alexei Kervezee and Mudassar Bukhari respectively, as the Dutch moved on to 229-6 with more than five overs to go.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Kyle Coetzer and Fraser Watts put on 86 for the first wicket before Watts became the first of Peter Borren's three victims for 33.
Calum MacLeod made 35 off 41 balls as he and Coetzer took the score to 142 for one before the opener's patient innings was ended by Tom Heggelman, Neil Kruger taking the catch at cover.
MacLeod followed Coetzer back to the pavilion six runs later, clean bowled past his outside edge by Heggelman, but the hosts steadied the ship thanks to 34 from Preston Mommsen and 29 from Richie Berrington.
Smashed
Gordon Drummond then smashed an unbeaten 20 off nine balls, including two fours and a six, to help the Scots to a competitive total.
Haq's first wicket was the important dismissal of Kervezee, who hit four sixes in a 52-ball knock, Davey taking the catch at short fine leg, as Scotland slowed the Dutch innings.
The Netherlands slipped from 157-3 to 170-6, but a 59-run stand for the seventh wicket between Cooper and Bukhari, who smashed 41 from just 23 balls with three sixes and three fours, put them back in command.
It looked like the tourists had done enough, but Bukhari fell to Davey in the 45th over to leave them on 229-7 and, with partners running out, Cooper was unable to see them home.
The second and final ODI of the series is also at Mannofield Park, Aberdeen on Wednesday.
