There's definitely something special about matches between Scotland and The Netherlands in the World Cricket League.

In Nairobi in 2007 the Scots snatched victory by 2 runs in an amazing final over after Billy Stelling and Peter Borren had worked their side back into a game they had apparently lost. And in the World Cup Qualifier in South Africa last year (now, it seems, a.k.a. World Cricket League Divisions 1 and 2), Scotland were reduced to 59 for five before a disastrous dropped catch enabled them to turn the game around and eventually win by 26 runs.

On Thursday in Amstelveen the two sides were at it again, and once again it was Scotland who profited from a series of Dutch mistakes at the death to squeeze home by one wicket with one ball to spare.

There had been little hint for most of the day of the drama to come. The tournament hosts had had the edge much of the way through a fairly pedestrian game, battling their way to a total of 234 for six against a persistent Scottish attack on a pitch which always gave the bowlers plenty of encouragement, and then reducing their opponents to 86 for five.

Tom Cooper was again the mainstay of the Dutch batting with a watchful, 130-ball 87, bringing his aggregate in his first two ODIs to 167. He was supported by Wesley Barresi, who made a promising 35 in his first ODI, but it was Bas Zuiderent who built on the platform they had constructed, plundering 55 not out from 35 deliveries as The Netherlands added 80 runs in the final ten overs.

Gordon Drummond was again the pick of the Scottish bowlers with two for 27 from his ten, while the spin trio of Ross Lyons, Moneeb Iqbal and Gregor Maiden kept the pressure on the Dutch batsmen for long periods in the middle overs.

234 was probably just about par, and it seemed as if it might be enough when Mudassar Bukhari tore through the Scottish top order, taking three for 14 in a six-over opening spell.

But with an injured Peter Borren out of the attack the Dutch had gone into the game probably one bowler short, and Cooper was pressed into service to contribute a full ten overs. He removed Neil McCallum with the total on 82, and Pieter Seelaar trapped Richie Berrington in front four runs later, but then Moneeb Iqbal played a highly intelligent innings which gradually gave his side the advantage.

Partnered first by Dougie Lockhart and then by Matt Parker, Iqbal patiently picked off the runs, and by the time he was out for a fine 63 in the 48th over only ten more were required.

Skipper Drummond was still there, and with ten balls left he was joined by last man Ross Lyons after Gordon Goudie had been run out by a brilliant direct hit from Zuiderent at mid-on. Two came from the rest of Bukhari's over, so eight were needed from Mark Jonkman's last.

Lyons took a single from the second ball, Drummond missed the third but then crashed the fourth through the off side to leave Scotland needing three from two balls.

Off Jonkman's next delivery he went for another big hit, and skied a steepling catch to backward point. It hung in the air for a very long time, and when it came down Tom de Grooth spilled it. They took a single: one for the tie, two to win, and Lyons on strike.

There was a long consultation between Borren and Jonkman, but all to no avail: to the horror of the Dutch camp, Jonkman bowled a wide, the ball escaped keeper Buurman, the batsmen ran, and when Buurman threw to the bowler's end Jonkman's shy at the stumps missed. Scotland were home with a ball to spare, and a shell-shocked Dutch side could not believe they had let victory slip through their fingers.

It may not have been a great match but it did provide a great conclusion, and it is unlikely to be the last in this ten-day tournament.