Netherlands qualify for World T20

Belfast, Ireland:

The Netherlands joined Ireland as the second cricket team to qualify for next year's ICC World Twenty20 Championships after beating Scotland in the semifinals of the Qualifying tournament in Stormont in Belfast, Ireland.

The Netherlands coasted to a comfortable five-wicket success over Scotland with 12 balls remaining on Monday.

Man of the match Ryan ten Doeschate produced a fine all-round performance to inspire the Netherlands to an easy win.

Ten Doeschate grabbed 3-23 to peg Scotland to 107-8 in 20 overs after Kyle Coetzer (40) and Ryan Watson (22) had provided their team with a 54-run opening start, the highest first wicket partnership of the tournament to that point.

Ten Doeschate, in the target chase, returned unbeaten on 24 from 14 balls with a six and a four as the Netherlands wrapped up with match in 18 overs. Eric Szwarzcyniski (31), Tom de Grooth (24) and Peter Borren (16 not out) also made valuable contributions.

Later, in the third and fourth-place play-off, openers Kyle Coetzer (48) and Ryan Watson (54) put on 102 runs for the first wicket as Scotland thumped the 2003 ODI World Cup semi-finalist Kenya by nine wickets with 11 balls to spare.

It was the joint-fifth best first wicket partnership in the history of Twenty20 Internationals after Australia's Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist scored 102 against Bangladesh at Cape Town during last year's ICC World Twenty20. PTI