SCOTLAND lost to the Netherlands by 14 runs on their return to international cricket after a 17-month absence.
Shane Burger’s men restricted their hosts to 163/8 from a reduced 33 overs due to a long rain delay.
But the Saltires didn’t get close to chasing down that total and eventually finished on 149/8, with Richie Berrington their top scorer with 41.
They will look to gain their revenge tomorrow when the sides meet again in the second and final one-day international of the series.
The Dutch had won the toss and elected to bat when the weather improved and play finally got underway in Rotterdam.
Scotland, though, restricted them well, with Gavin Main taking two early wickets for just seven runs.
There was a landmark moment for Mark Watt with the spinner taking his 100th Scotland wicket when he had Ben Cooper caught behind by Matt Cross for 10.
New Zealand-born Max O’Dowd top scored for the Dutch with 83 from just 102 balls before he was run out two balls before the end of the innings.
Logan van Beek was the only other batsman to offer any kind of run support, making 24 as the Dutch finished on just 163.
Best of the Scotland bowers were Watt and Main who got a couple apiece, with Safyaan Sharif, Ali Evans and Hamza Tahir also chipping in with one each.
The visitors seemed in good shape as they approached the run chase but got off to a disastrous start.
Cross went in the second over for just one before captain Kyle Coetzer departed on nine.
And with the Scots still readjusting, Calum MacLeod was soon joining them back in the pavilion after being bowled for 14 leaving this team on 31/3.
Berrington (41 off 43 balls) and George Munsey (27 off 33) got things going again with a 69-run partnership.
But they were both out in quick succession leaving Scotland up against it at 101/5.
And another pair of quick wickets again proved costly. First Dylan Budge was caught on the boundary for four, with Watt then ran out for 15 leaving Scotland on 121/7.
They needed to up the run rate to have any chance of catching the Dutch total but Sharif and Main couldn’t produce the boundaries needed, with Sharif eventually departing off the last ball of the match.
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