The Netherlands scripted one of the most memorable victories in ODI cricket on Wednesday, chasing down a daunting 370-run target against Scotland with just four balls to spare. In a high-scoring thriller at Forthill, Dundee, opener Max O’Dowd starred with a match-winning 158* to guide his team to a stunning four-wicket win in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.
This remarkable effort is now the third-highest successful run chase in ODI history — a feat that places the Dutch team alongside some of the most iconic limited-overs wins in the game’s history.
Top 5 highest successful run-chases in ODI history
| Rank | Date | Country | Target | Opponent | Ground | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Mar 2006 | South Africa | 435 | Australia | Wanderers Stadium | South Africa won by 1 wicket |
| 2 | 26 Jun 2023 | Netherlands | 375 | West Indies | Takashinga Sports Club | Netherlands won in Super Over |
| 3 | 12 Jun 2025 | Netherlands | 370 | Scotland | Forthill | Netherlands won by 4 wickets |
| 4 | 05 Oct 2016 | South Africa | 372 | Australia | Kingsmead | South Africa won by 4 wickets |
| 5 | 20 Feb 2019 | England | 361 | West Indies | Kensington Oval | England won by 6 wickets |
How Netherlands pulled off a heist
Scotland, batting first, piled up 369/6 on the back of a breathtaking 191 from George Munsey, the highest ODI score by an Associate batter. Supported by Matthew Cross (59) and late cameos, the hosts looked in full control. But the Netherlands had other plans.
After a steady opening from Michael Levitt (44), Max O’Dowd anchored the innings masterfully. Despite some mid-innings stumbles, contributions from Teja Nidamanuru (51 off 42) and Noah Croes (50 off 29) helped maintain the scoring rate. O’Dowd’s calm under pressure, especially in the final overs, ensured the Dutch crossed the line in the 50th over, sealing a chase for the ages.
