The spirited Dutch side, under the leadership of the wicket-keeper batter and skipper Babette de Leede, has been one of the most impressive sides on their T20 World Cup debut in the 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, making every side work hard for their points. They were up against the Proteas, who have got better with each game, after suffering an early setback against Australia.
Earlier in the day, India registered a comprehensive 5-wicket win against Bangladesh on 25th June 2026. South Africa retained the same side that took the field in their previous clash. The Netherlands made a couple of changes; Isabel Wonning was replaced by Hannah Landheer, and an unwell Heather Siegers had to make way for the 21-year-old youngster Sanya Khurana in the starting 11.
The South African openers, Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt, got their side off to a flying start, smashing 66 runs, scoring at a rate of 11 runs an over in the powerplay. The T20 World Cup debutants fumbled under pressure courtesy of the onslaught, which resulted in lapses in the field and a few dropped catches.
Both the openers capitalised, and the partnership soared to 121. Hannah Landheer, playing her 1st game in the tournament, got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Laura Wolvaardt (45 off 36 balls) in the 14th over of the innings to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for the Dutch.
Annerie Drecksen (37* off 16 balls) joined Tazmin Brits at the crease, and the duo switched to top gear en route to their unbeaten 87-run stand for the 2nd wicket, which took them past the 200-run mark as they posted 208/1 in their quota of 20 overs. It was also the 5th instance of a team breaching the 200-run mark in the ongoing edition of the tournament. Tazmin Brits registered her maiden T20I century 114* (69 balls), staying unbeaten throughout the innings. Her knock included 15 boundaries and 3 maximums. Hannah Landheer (4-0-34-1) was the only wicket-taker with the ball for the Netherlands.
Chasing a mountainous total of 209, the Dutch openers Sanya Khurana and Phebe Molkenboer got them off to a promising start, with a 58-run opening stand. Both the openers took the attack to the veteran legend, one of their most experienced and fierce bowlers, Shabnim Ismail, to a hat-trick of boundaries in the powerplay, taking 27 runs off her two overs. The early counterattack put the Proteas under a lot of pressure.
The introduction of left-arm spin in the 7th over applied the brakes on the scoring rate. Chloe Tryon eventually provided the first breakthrough for South Africa by sending Sanya Khurana (36 off 30 balls) back to the pavilion in the 8th over of the run chase. Sterre Kalis joined the opening batter, Phebe Molkenboer, at the crease, and the duo took them to the 100-run mark with another vital 42-run stand for the 2nd wicket.
Shabnim Ismail returned for another burst and strangled Sterre Kalis (26 off 28 balls) down the leg side to provide her side with the 2nd breakthrough in the 15th over of the run chase. The Dutch suffered a dramatic collapse as they were restricted to 120/8 in their quota of overs, falling 88 runs short of the target. The Netherlands lost their next 6 wickets for just 20 runs. Phebe Molkenboer (41 off 41 balls) top-scored and skipper Babette de Leede (11 off 12 balls) played her part with the bat for her side.
The scoreboard may not reflect the kind of fight and the character shown by the Babette de Leede-led side against the consecutive runners-up of the Women’s T20 World Cup from the previous two editions. The run chase will be remembered more for the kind of positive approach, the fight and the fearless intent shown by the Dutch top-order, than for them not getting over the line.
Ayabonga Khaka (3-0-19-3), Chloe Tryon (4-0-16-2), Marizanne Kapp (3-0-11-0), and Nonkululeko Mlaba (4-0-22-0) were the top performers with the ball for South Africa. Tazmin Brits was awarded the Player of the Match for scoring a decisive unbeaten century, as the Proteas sealed a hat-trick of victories. The knock also made her the 2nd South African, after former wicket-keeper batter Lizelle Lee, to score a century in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
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