Ireland Women produced a clinical all-round performance to defeat Netherlands Women by seven wickets in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier clash at Hazelaarweg, with Arlene Kelly starring as the hero of the day with a sensational five-wicket haul. Ireland’s campaign received a big boost as they outclassed the Netherlands in a crucial group-stage match. Winning the toss, the Dutch opted to bat first but were dismantled by Ireland’s pace attack, spearheaded by Arlene Kelly.
Kelly’s Magical Spell Breaks Netherlands’ Backbone
Kelly ran riot with the ball, picking up 5 wickets for just 14 runs in her 3.5 overs. Her deadly accuracy left the Netherlands batters with no answers, as they crumbled to just 110 runs in 18.5 overs. Babette de Leede (23 off 20) and Robine Rijke (25 off 27) tried to provide some resistance, but regular strikes halted any momentum.
Leah Paul also impressed with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 11 runs in 2.3 overs, while Orla Prendergast kept things tight with 1 for 6 in her economical three-over spell.
Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast Seal the Chase
Chasing a modest target of 111, Ireland Women were in no hurry as openers set the tone. Gaby Lewis anchored the innings with a mature knock of 56 runs off 55 deliveries, while Orla Prendergast played a stylish innings of 49 from 44 balls. The duo stitched together a strong stand that virtually ended Dutch hopes.
Ireland reached the target in 19.1 overs with seven wickets in hand. Amy Hunter (3* off 7) calmly finished the job as Ireland celebrated an important win in their qualification campaign.
Player of the Match: Arlene Kelly
Unsurprisingly, the Player of the Match award went to Arlene Kelly for her career-best figures of 5/14. Her spell not only destroyed the Netherlands batting lineup but also gave Ireland a huge net run rate boost, which could prove vital later in the tournament.
What This Win Means
With this victory, Ireland Women continue to strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier. For the Netherlands, the loss underlined their batting struggles, and they will need a stronger display to stay alive in the tournament.
Ireland’s commanding win, built on Kelly’s brilliance and the composure of Lewis and Prendergast, sends a strong message to the rest of the teams competing in the qualifiers.
