A gleeful - if slightly off-key - rendition of the national anthem echoed out across the Dubai outfield from the Scotland changing room.

Make no mistake, this was a crucial, comprehensive victory over a Netherlands side which had been top of their group. With only Denmark to come in this stage on Sunday, a path to the play-off stage has suddenly opened up for the Scots.

Having lost the toss for the fifth time in six matches, Scotland had been put in to bat. But despite wickets falling at awkward times, a solid vigil from Matt Machan - he came in at the start of the fourth over and was still there at the close - steadied things. Still, they had only scored 103 with four overs remaining when Machan and Rob Taylor unleashed on the Dutch attack, clubbing 62 quick runs in the last 24 balls to give their bowlers something to aim at.

"We kept losing wickets regularly," said Machan. "So I just tried to bat to the end and I was going to go on the last three. I said to Rob when he came in: 'just bat how you bat and take it to them'. And it was some of the best striking I've seen from the other end. The more of that the better."

The Netherlands had started well, Stephan Myburgh making a quick 18 before he was bowled by Neil Carter. But from then on the runs dried up as tight bowling and snappy fielding restricted the Dutch. Diving to his right, Calum MacLeod got one hand to a Michael Swart cut to stop it going for a certain boundary before Kyle Coetzer stopped another 4, leaping with his arm outstretched.

Though the sun had been out and would later return, clouds suddenly formed overhead. It threatened to rain, locals exchanging anxious looks. They struggle to cope with bad weather here: schools in Abu Dhabi had all been shut down on Thursday after what Lanarkshire folk might call a light drizzle. The Scots thrived in their familiar chilly conditions.

Majid Haq, having quietly been Scotland's stand-out middle-overs halter, was tidy again and had Swart caught out at mid-wicket. A tough run out opportunity was just missed. Then Haq bowled Eric Szwarczynski: the batsman, bamboozled by the ball, collapsed as his stumps fell.

Wesley Barresi still stood there - now on 39 - as his partners crumbled around him. His lack of dynamism, though, cost the Dutch dear as he failed to drag back the increasing run rate. A boundary brought a rare cheer from the Dutch bench. Sharif had the dangerous Borren caught by Gordon Goudie in close. The bowlers kept the pressure up and the Dutch soon needed a boundary off nearly every ball - they could barely manage one - as Scotland rolled home.

The Scots earlier innings was only three overs old when MacLeod as out lbw, the umpire pausing briefly to give the Scots bench some hope before lifting his finger. But Richie Berrington was on form, making a brisk 38 off 31 balls. He and Machan were quick between the wickets too, milking their little pushes and glances into the gaps for 2s, before Berrington was caught in the deep by Ahsan Malik. Michael Leask came in and struggled, making four runs before he was then bowled by Peter Borren.

Scotland got bogged down in the middle overs; few balls made it so far as the boundary. But Coetzer and Machan provided stability as the Dutch spinners bowled cleverly. Scotland's plan was clearly to keep wickets in hand for a blitz in the final overs. And so they did - Machan's 67 off 46 was the lynchpin, while Taylor provided the explosive flourish.

He had just been dropped, too, but made the most of his extra life, smashing the ball all over the park to take Scotland to a defendable total when it looked like they might not get close. A thump behind for 6 off the last ball was the perfect end to a measured, match-winning partnership.

"We knew what we had to do two days ago," said Machan. "People have found form. The pressure was off a little bit. We did well in the warm-up games and then in the first couple of matches imploded. The pressure's been off now, everyone's enjoying it and winning is a habit. Three wins out of three and we'll go through."