Munsey, Coetzer pummel Netherlands in Scotland’s win

The pair ran riot in Dublin with their double-century partnership, propelling Scotland to 252/3.

Scotland recorded the third-highest stand in T20I history as George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer put on 200 in their side’s 58-run win over Netherlands on Monday. The pair ran riot in Dublin with their double-century partnership, propelling Scotland to 252/3 before Coetzer was caught out for 89.

Munsey scored at a pace that put him in rarified company. He went on to score an unbeaten 127, while Richie Berrington hit 22. Michael Leaks was dismissed for a golden duck.

He hit his maiden century off 41 balls. Three men have scored faster T20I centuries, all off 35 balls. He hit 14 sixes. Only Hazratullah Zazai, who clobbered 16 for Afghanistan against Ireland in February has struck more. Munsey also struck 32 off one over, only Yuvraj Singh of India who hit six sixes off England’s Stuart Broad in 2007 has scored more.

The Netherlands could only manage 194 for seven in response, with Alasdair Evans and Adrian Neill both taking two wickets as Scotland moved to the top of the table in the triangular tournament. Skipper Pieter Seelaar waged a long battle with an unbeaten 96 off 49 balls with nine fours and five sixes.

When asked whether he had his sights on the world-record T20 stand, which was set at 236 by Afghanistan against Ireland earlier this year, Munsey said: “I didn’t know what it is. I will be honest, at 199 he (Coetzer) took a big swing and missed and I thought, ‘One more run and we’ve got 200′. But I didn’t say that in the end and he got one away for the 200 partnership.”

Scotland face hosts Ireland on Tuesday in both sides’ second match in the six-game series.

Brief scores: Scotland 252/3 in 20 overs (George Munsey 127*, Kyle Coetzer 89; Shane Snater 3-42) beat Netherlands 194/7 in 20 overs (Pieter Seelaar 96*, Scott Edwards 37; Alasdair Evans 2-19) by 58 runs.