SAFYAAN Sharif marked his debut in style as Scotland completed a memorable one-day international double against the Netherlands at Mannofield yesterday.

The Dunfermline Knights youngster claimed 4-27 to help restrict the Dutch to 180-9 before Kyle Coetzer’s highest ODI score sealed a five-wicket win.

The Scots survived several scares before reaching a rain-revised target of 162 from 41 overs, though ultimately this was a comfortable victory.

They lost Fraser Watts to the second ball of their reply while Calum MacLeod became Mudasser Bukhari’s second victim as home nerves jangled on 14-2. However, after a lengthy rain delay, Coetzer’s second half-century in as many days guided Scotland home with eleven deliveries to spare.

The Durham batsman again looked a class apart, adding 57 with Josh Davey who also looked fluent in making 30.Davey’s departure to Tom Heggelman sparked another minor wobble with Neil McCallum becoming the medium pacer’s second victim.

Richie Berrington’s poor run of scores also continued before Gregor Maiden joined Coetzer to help the Scots over the line.

Coetzer, timing his innings to perfection, hit the winning runs with his eleventh boundary while his 99-ball innings also included a glorious swept 6 off Tom Cooper.

Earlier, Sharif took just eight deliveries to make his mark on the international stage. The 20-year-old had already showed impressive pace before making the breakthrough when he trapped former Western Australia batsman Michael Swart lbw. It was the beginning of a purple patch that brought Sharif three wickets in quick succession.

Next to go was Wes Baressi, undone by the bowler’s pace and finding his attempted hook lobbing into the safe hands of Coetzer. Sharif completed a memorable spell when he found the top edge of Vinoo Tenwarie’s bat and Maiden took the catch.

At 22-3, the Dutch were teetering on the brink of disaster and they were in genuine disarray when a further three wickets fell in a four-over spell. They were in desperate need of a partnership and it was provided by captain Peter Borren and Heggelman.

The pair added 54, albeit in 20 overs, as Scotland continued to apply pressure in the field.Goudie eventually broke the stand when Heggelman edged to the keeper.

Having secured a 2-0 series success over a powerful Dutch side, the Scots can now look forward to next month’s even sterner tests against Ireland and Sri Lanka.

One day international, Mannofield

Netherlands

M Swart lbw b Sharif 3

W Baressi c Coetzer b Sharif 9

V Tanwarie c Maiden b Sharif 4

T Cooper b Berrington 26

N Kruger c Drummond b Goudie 5

T de Grooth c Maiden b Goudie 3

P Borren not out 71

T Heggelman c Maiden b Goudie 22

M Bukhari c Goudie b Sharif 28

P Seelaar run out 1

Extras (lb3 w5) 8

Total (for nine, 50 overs) 180

Fall 1-7, 2-17, 3-22, 4-42, 5-48, 6-54, 7-108, 8-174, 9-180

Bowling Drummond 9-0-46-0, Sharif 8-1-27-4, Davey 3-0-13-0, Goudie 7-1-18-3, Berrington 4-0-13-1, Haq 10-0-19-0, Coetzer 9-1-41-0

scotland

F Watts c Baressi b Bukhari 0

K Coetzer not out 89

C MacLeod b Bukhari 2

J Davey c Borren b Heggelman 30

N McCallum c Cooper b Heggelman 19

R Berrington c Cooper b Bukhari 10

G Maiden not out 12

Extras 0

Total (for five, 39.1 overs) 162

Fall 1-0, 2-14, 3-71, 4-103, 5-134

Bowling Bukhari 9-1-21-3, Malik 8-0-45-0, Borren 7-0-25-0, Seelaar 6.1-0-20-0, Heggelman 7-0-34-2, Cooper 2-0-17-0

Scotland won by five wickets (D/L) and win series 2-0