Saltires’ records tumble in T20 win over Dutch

Records tumbled last night as Scotland warmed-up for next month’s T20 World Cup qualifier with a thumping win over the Netherlands at Malahide.

The Scots, opening their Tri-Series campaign which also features hosts Ireland, posted their highest-ever total in the short format – a mammoth 252-3 – en-route to victory by 57 runs.

They were led by a stunning knock from Grange star George Munsey whose unbeaten 127 is the best individual tally by a Scot in T20 internationals and the fifth highest by any player in the world.

Munsey shared an opening stand of 200 – also a Scottish record – with Kyle Coetzer whose 89 was his highest in the format and included eleven sixes.

Indeed, Coetzer set the tone by smacking 16 from the first over of the match and was first to reach the halfcentury landmark before his effort was eclipsed as Munsey moved into overdrive.

The left-hander became only the second Scot to make a T20I century, reaching three figures from just 41 deliveries, his onslaught including one over when he thumped 32 off the hapless Max O’Dowd.

By the end, Munsey had faced only 56 balls, hitting five boundaries and an astonishing 14 maximums.

Richie Berrington, Scotland’s only previous centurion in an official T20I, weighed-in with a rapid 22 at the end.

In reply the shell-shocked Dutch lost opener Tobias Visee for a duck, caught and bowled by Ali Evans, as Scotland ruthlessly pressed home their advantage.

They rallied to bat out their overs and reach 194-7 with Pieter Seelaar hitting a fine unbeaten 96 but the Scots were never in danger. Evans was top bowler with 2-19 from his four overs while Adrian Neill took 2-33.

The buoyant Scots next face Ireland this afternoon.