Dutch women give Irish a hard time

Unfortunately, the Dutch women's team was not able to beat Ireland despite a strong performance. The Dutch did well to restrict the Irish to 199, but despite good innings from Robine Rijke, Sterre Kalis and Babette de Leede and a promising score of 158/4, the Orange team came up short.

After winning the toss, the Netherlands opted to field first. Iris Zwilling and Heather Siegers started strongly. Ireland's openers were Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis. After a cautious start, Lewis in particular got going. After ten overs, their shaky start was already repaired, 49/0.

It was time for a leggie. Caroline de Lange came on and just like against Sri Lanka, that move had immediate success when Lewis (46) hit a half-tracker in the hands of the mid-wicket fielder.

Young Amy Hunter opened her account with a wonderful lofted drive but was cleverly run out by Robine Rijke a bit later: 69/2. When Sterre Kalis grabbed a catch on the bowling of De Lange, it was even 76/3.

Offspinner Eva Lynch came into the attack. Today all bowling changes seemed to work out well, as she got Shauna Kavanagh LBW and a ball later the dangerous pinch-hitter Orla Prendergast was caught behind on her very first ball. Ireland on 85/5 and in all sorts of trouble.

However, Richardson and Delany showed that Ireland has depth in their batting line-up. Aided by a solid forward defense, they went past 100 at a fairly punishing pace. Captain Delany in particular played fantastic innings (75).

Richardson (LBW) eventually got out to a googly from Silver Siegers who bowled excellently. 170/6 after 34 overs meant that the Irish had managed to make a partnership of 85 for the sixth wicket.

The Orange, however, did not give up. Frederique Overdijk (kept out of the attack against Sri Lanka, probably due to a hand injury) bowled well and got Waldron LBW: 195/7/39.

Now a crucial phase began. If Ireland completed its 50 overs, they would finish well above 200. If the Netherlands would bowl the Irish all out, there would be a feasible target on the board.

That last scenario became reality, with Silver Siegers (4-24!) cleaning up the tail. Where Ireland always managed to get a run-rate of five per, they were now all out for 199; a target of only four per over.

Innings Netherlands

Orla Prendergast bowled difficult inswingers to which Juliët Post unfortunately quickly fell victim. From the other end, Jane Maguire bowled big outswingers. Babette de Leede (34) and Sterre Kalis made a solid partnership of 59 runs for the second wicket.

After the departure of De Leede (66/2), Robine Rijke opened her account with a boundary. It now became a cat-and-mouse game in which the Irish bowled very consistently and economically and dared to often change the bowling. Nevertheless, Kalis and Rijke mostly managed to keep the run-rate around 3.5. The Netherlands reached 100/2 in the thirtieth over.

Rijke had to take the initiative when Kalis was notably exhausted. At this stage, a little too many full tosses and half volleys were hit to fielders. The increasing runrate led to Kalis (47) running down the track to legspinner Celeste Raack and was stumped: 139/3 in the 39th over.

In an attempt to increase the runrate, Heather Siegers was run out: 158/4 in the 43rd over. When a little later Frederique Overdijk was run out in a similar way and Rijke was bowled for 56, it was game, set, and match for Ireland - again.

Never before has this group of players been so close to beating the Irish in a 50-over game. Although on Thursday night grumpiness logically prevailed, they can take on the West Indies on Monday with their heads held high.

“Supporters back home should be very proud of the team"

Coach Shane Deitz sympathized with his players: “Heartbreaking result for the team today. We were in control for a lot of the game but unfortunately couldn’t get the big moments and consistency right. Again we showed our talent and skills which the team has worked so hard on over the period I have been here but unfortunately, we don’t have the experience that the other teams have which in the end was the difference.”

“After the Irish got off to a good start Silver Siegers restored our bowling innings taking 4 for 24. The run chase was going well with Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis at the crease and then Babette was dismissed for 34. In came Robine Rijke who played the international innings of her life to put us in a great position making and brilliant 56. Sterre Kalis again showed her class for 47 but in the end, we just fell short.

“The team is getting better every day and growing so these are opportunities we need to learn and grow from and in the future I have no doubt we will win more games than we will lose.”

“Supporters back home should be very proud of the team so far and we are so excited to play the West Indies on Monday who have some fantastic cricketers so it will be an amazing experience for our team.”