Captain Courageous Gordon Drummond said Scotland got out of jail to launch their World Cricket League campaign with a win. However, Drummond praised the never-say-die attitude of his youthful team which held its nerve to clinch a thriller by one wicket from the last scheduled delivery of the match against Holland.

Drummond, who hit 33no to get his team over the line after Moneeb Iqbal had top-scored with 63, was given an reprieve when he was dropped off the penultimate delivery. And the Dutch also missed a run-out chance which would have left the scores tied.

Drummond said: “I wouldn't say Holland lost it more than we won it. They certainly had their chance when they dropped that chance but up until then it had been an even match. We gave them more runs at the end than we were happy with because we wanted to restrict them to 210. It also wasn't the game plan to lose early wickets but Moneeb (Iqbal) played a great knock and we know we bat all the way down.”

Drummond also paid tribute to Dutch counterpart Peter Borren who gave him a reprieve after one of the most controversial incidents of an action-packed game. The Dutch appealed against the Scotland skipper for obstructing the field while trying to complete a quick single. Umpires Kumar Dharmsena and Buddi Pradham upheld the appeal after a mid-wicket conferral.

Drummond added: “I spoke to Peter before going off and told him I play hard but fair and then he asked me to come back. In the spirit of cricket it was a good gesture.”

Former Saltires coach Pete Drinnen, now in charge of the Dutch, said: “I thought it was good sportsmanship from our captain but we're not happy with the outcome. We weren't good enough but take nothing away from the Scots.”