Dutch yet to qualify as Ireland find seven wicket win

For Ireland’s their plane tickets to Nepal were already booked but the Dutch would have to wait, their place almost confirmed but not mathematically guaranteed (after all these things are non-refundable).

Out of all the fixtures, this is the one with the most competitive edge. The strongest two sides albeit different levels of professionalism provide some interesting individual match ups. The sides could meet again in an important maybe even deciding global qualifying match in January.

The Netherlands were without Heather Siegers, their centurion and powerful top order batter whose absence was noticed. Partnerships were scarce with Babette de Leede and Robine Rijke providing crucial.

The turning point rare and intriguing. Laura Delany bowled seven wides after which she went off injured, Leah Paul having to finish her over. With three balls remaining of the over, Paul trapped de Leede LBW, a decision the Dutch skipper did not appreciate.

Arlene Kelly however was the real instigator of the Netherlands’ batting collapse taking 5/14, her second five wicket haul in IT20s, her first also being against the Dutch back in 2023. With opener Merel Dekeling and top scorer Rijke in the bag, Caroline de Lange was number three with a spectacular catch by Cara Murray. Sanya Khurana and Silver Siegers completed the five, wrapping up the innings prematurely 110 all out.

The Netherlands did well to restrict Ireland in the powerplay, even at the halfway stage just one wicket was the difference between these sides. Iris Zwilling, who took a three-fer earlier in the week, bowled out her allocation after just seven overs delivering a solid foundation for the other bowlers to work from. Equally, Robine Rejke backed up her vital knock with the bat with three early economical overs to keep the Dutch in the game.

Without a big score on the board, the Netherland’s needed wickets. Hannah Landheer offered something different with her pace and slinky action but could not break the partnership of Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast. Ultimately, the Dutch were outclassed by the plethora of shots Lewis and Prendergast had at their disposal making the game look much more one sided.

The Dutch weren’t willing to be dead and buried. Prendergast was denied her half century, edging through to de Leede off the bowling of Landheer and continued to pile on the pressure. As the scores were level Lewis looked to finish the game in spectacular fashion, just to find hands of Zwilling, extending the game to the final over.

Individual moments of excellence separated the sides with Gaby Lewis finishing on 56 and Arlene Kelly with five wickets to her name and although not a clinical performance, Ireland kept their winnings streak going.