The Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier Group B clash between Netherlands Women and Scotland Women at Kirtipur unfolded as a gripping contest, shaped by a blend of composure at the top, middle-order momentum, and a tense chase that went down to the final overs. In a game where individual brilliance met collective resilience as Netherlands Women held their nerve to secure a hard-fought 7-run victory, underlining their growing confidence on the global stage.
Asked to set the tone first, Netherlands Women began with intent but also faced early challenges against a disciplined Scottish bowling attack. Heather Siegers provided a brisk start, scoring 18 off just 12 balls with two boundaries and a six, striking at 150.00 before being stumped by Sarah Bryce off Kathryn Bryce. Iris Zwilling struggled to find fluency and was dismissed for 5 off 9 balls, caught by Megan McColl off Rachel Slater.
Captain Babette de Leede added stability with an 18-run knock from 21 balls, rotating strike effectively before falling to Chloe Abel. The innings truly found its heartbeat when Sterre Kalis walked in and took control of the tempo. While Robine Rijke was dismissed for a duck and Frederique Overdijk chipped in with 11 off 11 balls, Kalis anchored the innings with remarkable maturity.
Sterre Kalis produced a match-defining unbeaten 87 off 60 deliveries, laced with 14 fours and a six at a strike rate of 145.00. She stitched together crucial partnerships through the middle and death overs, ensuring the Netherlands kept scoring despite wickets falling at the other end. Her calm presence allowed the Dutch side to accelerate late, pushing the innings to a competitive 157/6 in 20 overs, with extras contributing 16 runs.
Scotland’s bowlers shared the workload, with Rachel Slater standing out by picking up 3 wickets for 24 runs in her four overs. Kathryn Bryce claimed 1 for 34, Abtaha Maqsood took 1 for 21, while Chloe Abel impressed with economical figures of 1 for 22. Though Olivia Bell and Priyanaz Chatterji went wicketless, they were involved in controlling phases of the innings.
In reply, Scotland Women approached the chase with determination, aware of the pressure such an encounter brings. Darcey Carter fell early for 2, but Katherine Fraser counter-attacked superbly, smashing 41 off just 29 balls with eight boundaries at a strike rate of 141.37. Her partnership with skipper Kathryn Bryce proved vital, as Bryce anchored the innings with a composed 42 off 40 balls, striking five fours.
Sarah Bryce added momentum in the middle overs with a fluent 30 off 25 deliveries, keeping Scotland well in contention. Contributions from Ailsa Lister (13* off 14), Megan McColl (10 off 4 with a six), and Priyanaz Chatterji (1* off 2) ensured the chase stayed alive until the closing overs. Netherlands’ bowlers, however, held their lines under pressure.
Heather Siegers was impressive with 1 for 22 at an economy of 5.50, while Caroline de Lange delivered a crucial spell, taking 2 wickets for 27. Iris Zwilling and Silver Siegers chipped in with a wicket each, and though runs flowed at times, the Dutch bowlers struck at key moments to break partnerships. Scotland eventually closed on 150/5 in 20 overs, falling just short despite a valiant chase.
With this 7-run win, Netherlands Women showcased their composure and tactical awareness, led by Player of the Match Sterre Kalis. The match stood out as a classic Women’s T20 World Cup encounter, highlighting the rising competitiveness between emerging teams and offering fans a thrilling contest filled with partnerships, pressure moments, and standout individual performances.
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