The inadequacies of The Netherlands’ makeshift team were mercilessly exposed in Aberdeen on Saturday as Scotland powered to an innings victory with more than a day to spare.

Resuming on 277 for three, Scotland lost skipper Ryan Watson, caught by Geert Maarten Mol off the bowling of Alexei Kervezee, with the addition of just 18 to the score. This was the breakthrough the Dutch so desperately needed, but Neil McCallum, who had reached his century early in the day, continued in company with Majid Haq, adding 73 for the fifth wicket.

The new ball initially brought little respite, but then Somesh Kohli dismissed Haq, quickly followed by John Blain, to leave the Scots on 380 for six. While none of the Scottish lower order made a significant score, they gave McCallum good support as he went past 150.

Mol claimed the wicket of Gordon Drummond, giving Atse Buurman a fourth catch behind the stumps, and Scotland went to lunch on 428 for seven.

They didn’t last long after the interval as Mudassar Bukhari, who had so far bowled well without reward, came back to take the last three wicketsin the space of thirteen balls, finishing with three for 70. McCallum was the ninth man out, having made 181 from 254 balls in just over seven hours, with 19 fours and one six.

The Scottish total was 452, which meant that The Netherlands needed to make 197 if they were to force the Scots to bat again. Realistically, with nearly five sessions left, they would need to bat for more than a day if they were to have any chance of avoiding outright defeat.

That wasn’t how it worked out. John Blain and Paul Hoffmann quickly got rid of the openers, and between them took five wickets in 17 overs as the Dutch collapsed to 49 for five.

Mol and Bukhari showed some resistance, adding 42 for the sixth wicket and almost doubling the total, Bukhari smacking three sixes in the process. But it was only a matter of time, and he was eventually dismissed by Drummond.

Mol stayed somewhat longer, facing 60 balls in almost two hours before he was trapped leg-before by Haq, and with his departure, making the score 126 for eight, went any remote chance of extending the game into the final day.

Dewald Nel removed Pieter Seelaar and then Haq got rid of Kohli to end the innings and the match. It was a comprehensive victory, and one which demonstrated how ill The Netherlands – and arguably any of the Associates – can afford to lose players of the quality of Zuiderent, Ten Doeschate, Szwarczynski, and Schiferli.