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The Netherlands won Wednesday’s final-round match against Denmark at Shawholm, but the Danes made them fight all the way. Having lost by three runs to Scotland on Tuesday, Denmark again suffered defeat by the narrowest of margins, but there was a great deal to be encouraged by in their performance.

The match-winner for The Netherlands was again Ryan ten Doeschate, whose patient innings of 74 from 104 balls was in marked contrast to his aggressive knock against Ireland on Tuesday. By the time he was dismissed in the 48th over the Dutch were on the brink of victory, and the task was finished off by Tim de Leede, with 30 from just 19 balls. But even so, there was just one ball to spare as de Leede hit the winning boundary off the second-last ball of the game.

Dutch skipper Luuk van Troost won the toss and invited the Danes to bat, and they were given a great start by a 63-run opening partnership between Freddy Klokker (35) and Michael Pedersen (28). Carsten Pedersen (46) and Johan Malcolm-Hansen (40) carried on the good work, and by the time the latter was dismissed in the 40th over the Danish total had reached 177 for four.

The Netherlands’ attack never looked particularly threatening on a good batting wicket, but Pieter Seelaar bowled a tidy spell for figures of two for 42 from his ten overs, while Tim de Leede and Ryan ten Doeschate each picked up two wickets.

With Zishan Shah contributing an enterprising 42 not out from 31 balls in the closing stages, Denmark could be relatively pleased with their total of 238 for eight, which gave their bowlers something to defend.

Dutch openers Eric Szwarczynski and Tom de Grooth evidently relished their opportunity to lead the reply, and Szwarczynski in particular took the initiative, making 45 from 54 balls before he was bowled in off-spinner Malcolm-Hansen’s first over. De Grooth was run out five overs later, and when Daan van Bunge and Alexei Kervezee followed in fairly rapid succession, both victims of Malcolm-Hansen, the total was 120 for four and Denmark were in with a real chance.

Bas Zuiderent, batting at No. 6, helped ten Doeschate swing the game back The Netherlands’ way with a partnership of 66 for the fifth wicket, but then Zuiderent was stumped off Hamad Zaman in the 44th over with 53 still needed. Ten Doeschate and de Leede took the total to within 18 of the target, but once the former was trapped leg before by Zaman the task became more difficult.

Five were needed of the final over. De Leede took two off the first ball, but then faced three dot balls before straight-driving the fifth ball of the over for the winning boundary.