7 Aug 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau):Scotland have officially qualified for the 2026 ICC U19 Men’s World Cup, clinching their place after a tense 20-run win over the Netherlands in the final of the Europe Qualifier.
Batting first, Scotland set a competitive target of 238 runs. In reply, the Netherlands got off to a decent recovery at 108/3, despite losing two early wickets to Finlay Jones, who delivered a match-winning performance with figures of 4/41.
Off-spinner Manu Saraswat (3/43) played a key role in tightening the screws during the middle overs, slowing down the Dutch scoring rate. The turning point came when Ollie Jones dismissed the in-form Tom De Leede for 67, halting the Netherlands’ momentum. Jones fittingly wrapped up the game by taking the final wicket, bowling the Dutch out for 217.
Scotland’s captain Thomas Knight was ecstatic after the hard-fought win.
“Unbelievable! Could not be happier—especially winning a tight one like that,” he said. “This whole week has been building up to this one game, and we’ve learned so much since our first match against Sweden.”
Match-winner Finlay Jones reflected on the emotional weight of the moment.
“When you start playing cricket, you dream of playing in a World Cup, but it never quite feels real—until now. It’s been an incredible journey, and it’s all paid off.”
Scotland remained undefeated throughout the qualifiers, showing consistent form and resilience. They will now prepare to compete in the U19 World Cup, set to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January 2026.