Netherlands' players celebrate the dismissal of Scotland's Gavin Hamilton (left) during the Cricket World Cup Group A match at Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts, yesterday.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC

The anticipated contest did not materialise as The Netherlands outclassed their fellow ICC Associate member, Scotland, by eight wickets with more than 25 overs to spare at Warner Park yesterday.

Playing in the Group A 2007 Cricket World Cup encounter, penetrative bowling backed by good fielding enabled the Dutch to bundle out the Scots for a paltry 136 in 34.1 overs after stand-in Netherlands captain, Jeroen Smits, won the toss and sent in the opposition on a pitch offering movement.

Man-of-the-match Billy Stilling captured three for 12 with his pace to help inspire the Dutch to their win which was completed by Ryan ten Doeschate's unbeaten 70 off 68 balls as Holland made 140 for eight off 23.5 overs. Stelling, 37, who was born in South Africa and played professionally there up to 1996, came close to claiming a hat-trick as he swung the ball and aided by early-morning moisture, took two wickets with successive deliveries to leave the Scots tottering on 15 for four in the seventh over.

After a delayed 20-minutes start because of a sharp, light shower, Stelling struck with his second delivery as left-hander Navdeep Poonia faintly edged an away-swinger to wicketkeeper Smits without a run on the board.

SCORES: Scotland 136 off 34.1 overs (Glenn Rogers 26, Neil McCallum 24, Billy Stelling 3-12, Mark Jonkman 2-22, Mohammad Kashif 2-29).

The Netherlands 140-2 off 23.5 overs (Ryan ten Doeschate 70 not out, Bas Zuiderent 43; John Blain 2-29)