John Blain took five wickets to help Scotland complete a battling 26-run win over Holland in a crucial World Cup qualifying game in Johannesburg.

Dewald Nel was also among the wickets, taking three for 34, but it was Blain's five for 45 that stood out as the Dutch were dismissed for 190 after an unbeaten 80 from Jan Stander had helped the Scots post 216 for eight.

Bas Zuiderent tried his best with 67, but his effort was in vain as Scotland grabbed two much-needed points to boost their hopes of reaching the World Cup.

Holland made a poor start to their chase and were three wickets down for just 22 after Blain bowled Darron Reekers (10) and had Eric Szwarczynski (nought) caught at first slip by Ryan Watson and Ryan ten Doeschate (two) edged Nel to Colin Smith.

Alexei Kervezee and Daan van Bunge steadied the ship, but when wicketkeeper Smith latched onto a sharp chance off Craig Wright to get rid of the former for 36, it left the Dutch at 55 for four and in a real spot of bother.

The situation worsened when Wright had Van Bunge (25) caught by Blain at long-on, but Zuiderent and Peter Borren began to rebuild, bringing up the 50 partnership in 76 balls.

Nel was then brought back into the attack and he ended the stand at 73 with Borren caught by Blain at long-on for 29.

In his next over, he bowled Mudassar Bukhari (seven), before Blain cleaned up Edgar Schiferli for a third-ball duck leaving the Dutch needing 39 from 25 balls with two wickets remaining.

Both those wickets were claimed by Blain, who had Zuiderent caught by captain Watson in the deep and then bowled last man Jeroen Smits for seven.

Earlier, it was Stander's unbeaten 80 and a half-century from Gavin Hamilton that helped rescue the Scots after they had slumped to 59 for five.

Schiferli (four for 37) ran through the top order, beginning a fine opening spell when he struck a double blow in the third over of the day.

First he drew an edge from Kyle Coetzer to Reekers at first slip for six, before trapping new man Qasim Sheikh leg before wicket for a first-ball duck.

The Dutch seamer then reduced Scotland to 34 for four by claiming another two wickets in his fifth over. Watson, batting lower down the order in a bid to improve his wretched form, nicked behind to Reekers at first slip, and then Smith found Zuiderent at second slip with a thick waft.

Neil McCallum (12) was next to go trying to pull medium-pacer Borren but he only succeeded in top-edging, with Smits taking a simple catch.

Stander, who was dropped and almost run out early in his innings, survived and went on to share a 50-run partnership with Hamilton.

The Scotland opener completed his half-century in 106 balls but had his stumps disturbed by Bukhari shortly after when he played on for 52.

Wright (one) was next in and lasted only four deliveries before he was stumped by Smits off Pieter Seelaar and then Majid Haq was bowled by the same man for nought.

Stander brought up his 50 in 81 balls and, along with Blain, shared an unbroken 96-run partnership to help the Scots reach 216 for eight.