Scots can top ICC table with Dutch win

SCOTLAND coach Pete Steindl has challenged his new-look squad to keep up the Intercontinental Cup momentum when they square up to the Netherlands today.

Steindl's side pads up in Deventer knowing that a win against the under-strength hosts will enable them to jump over Afghanistan to the top of the table.

The Scots produced one of their most clinical ever displays to trounce Kenya in Nairobi at the start of the year – and the coach wants them to show the same degree of determination.

Steindl said: "That result just showed what we are capable of achieving at this level, however all the good work would be undone if we don't maintain the standard this week.

"The prospect of going to the head of the standings is a tremendous incentive, and I am sure the guys will be ready for the challenge."

The Scots attack will be missing a host of top seamers, but Steindl is happy to put his faith in his talented spin contingent.

Indeed, he could go into the contest with as many as four specialist slow bowlers, with debutant Preston Mommsen on hand to join the cast if required.

Mommsen has been in prime form with the bat, thumping a century for the Scotland Lions in their win against Leicestershire Seconds last week and putting together a string of impressive scores for Carlton in the SNCL.

The Dutch have been forced to make sweeping changes after almost half their team pulled out – including West of Scotland man Muhammad Kashif, who has work commitments.

Tim Gruijters has a persistent back injury, while Mudassar Bukhari, Maurits Jonkman and Bart Schilperoord are in the same boat as Kashif.

The replacements are VRA Amsterdam off-spinner Adeel Raja, ACC wicketkeeper Steven de Bruin, HBS seamer Berend Westdijk, and batters Rifaiz Bakas (Excelsior '20), Wilfried Diepeveen and Floris Kingma (both Voorburg).

Netherlands: Peter Borren (VRA, capt), Rifaiz Bakas (Excelsior), Wesley Barresi (VRA), Steven de Bruin (ACC), Wilfried Diepeveen (Voorburg), Tom de Grooth, Mark Jonkman (both HCC), Floris Kingma (Voorburg), Ruud Nijman (Hermes-DVS), Adeel Raja (VRA), Pieter Seelaar (Hermes-DVS), Eric Szwarczynski (VRA), Berend Westdijk (HBS Den Haag).

Scotland: Gordon Drummond (Carlton, capt), Dougie Lockhart (West of Scotland), Preston Mommsen (Carlton), Qasim Sheikh (Clydesdale), Richie Berrington (Greenock), Neil McCallum (Grange), Gregor Maiden (Grange), Majid Haq (Clydesdale), Moneeb Iqbal (West of Scotland), Matthew Parker (Forfarshire), Gordon Goudie (West of Scotland), Ross Lyons (Carlton), Simon Smith (Grange).