Scotland took a huge step towards the final of the World Cricket League First Division tournament at Jaffrey Sports Club on Friday, just holding on to defeat The Netherlands and secure a third successive victory by the narrowest of margins.

After a frustrating morning watching the ground staff mopping up the water on the pitch, the teams were able to get onto the field three-and-a-half hours after the scheduled start time. Dutch skipper Luuk van Troost won the toss and asked Scotland to bat first in a match reduced to 37 overs a side.

Fraser Watts and Majid Haq gave the Scots another good start, putting on 49 for the first wicket in just eight overs before Darron Reekers had Haq caught at point by Peter Borren for 19.

The Scottish batsmen continued to go along at six an over, despite the loss of Ryan Watson (25), victim of a fine diving catch by Ryan ten Doeschate at midwicket off the bowling of Billy Stelling.

Ten Doeschate removed Gavin Hamilton and Neil McCallum with successive deliveries, and when Watts went, the Essex player taking another fine diving catch off Stelling, Scotland were 143 for five with eleven overs left. Watts' 58, his third ODI half-century, was an excellent effort, coming off 68 balls with 6 fours.

The pace now slackened for a while, Tim de Leede and Borren putting the brakes on, but with wickets in hand the Scots were able to reach 207, Craig Wright and John Blain contributing some lusty blows while Colin Smith anchored the latter part of the innings.

Darron Reekers again began the Dutch response at a cracking pace, hitting 37 off just balls, but Bas Zuiderent fell with the total on 51 and Reekers soon followed, the first of three victims for Craig Wright.

The Dutch middle order found the pressure too great, with the Scots fielding well and holding on to the chances they were offered at regular intervals. With van Troost, Daan van Bunge, ten Doeschate, de Leede and Kervezee all back in the pavilion the score was 128 for seven with thirteen overs left, and the cause seemed lost.

But Borren now joined Stelling, and after a cautious start these two began to turn the game round. They added 77 for the eighth wicket, a Dutch record in ODIs, and despite some excellent spin bowling from Ross Lyons and Majid Haq and rapidly failing light they were able to bring The Netherlands to the brink of victory.

Five were needed off the last over, bowled by Paul Hoffmann. Stelling took a single off the first ball, Borren another off the second. Three were now required, but Stelling lofted the third ball to Blain at mid-off, finishing with 44, made off 51 deliveries with four boundaries.

Edgar Schiferli came on, pushed his first ball out on the off side and Borren was stranded in mid-pitch, looking for what should have been a single in the circumstances. His 32 had come off 38 balls, with a four and a six.

Just one wicket left, and still three to get. But Hoffmann's next ball hit Schiferli's stumps, and the Scots had survived.

Hoffmann received with Man of the Match award for his extraordinary final over, and Scotland could celebrate yet another hair's-breadth win. Scheduled to play Kenya on Sunday and Bermuda on Monday, they are not yet quite certain of a place in the final, but they are two games clear of Ireland, Canada and The Netherlands and it would take some bizarre events to stop them.