Glasgow set the stage for the opening fixture of the ODI series, where Netherlands Women clashed with Scotland Women in a high-stakes encounter.
Electing to bat, the Dutch top order took complete control of the early narrative. Openers Phebe Molkenboer and Sanya Khurana laid a solid foundation with a fluent 66-run opening stand. Khurana set an aggressive tempo, firing 46 off 47 balls with nine crisp boundaries before Abtaha Maqsood made the initial breakthrough, having her caught by Nevard in the 13th over.
Joining Molkenboer at the crease, skipper Babette de Leede elevated the scoring rate further in a dominating 138-run partnership for the second wicket. De Leede struck 69 off 74 balls, including nine boundaries and a maximum, before falling run-out to Maqsood in the 37th over with the score at 204/2.
Molkenboer remained the bedrock of the innings, anchoring the innings with a majestic century (106 off 144 balls, featuring 9 fours). Following De Leede’s exit, Robine Rijke contributed a useful 18 off 30 deliveries before being bowled by Darcey Carter at 260/3. Molkenboer was eventually run out by Maceira late in the 50th over, leaving Iris Zwilling unbeaten on 4 off 6 balls. Supported by 27 extra runs, Netherlands Women carried tremendous momentum into the mid-innings break.
Scotland’s bowling attack found it tough to stem the run flow, though several bowlers maintained disciplined spells. Captain Abtaha Maqsood led from the front with tidy figures of 1/35 in her 10 overs, while Darcey Carter picked up 1/55 in 9 overs. Niamh Robertson-Jack bowled a tight tight spell of 10-0-42-0, and Maisie Maceira (0/39 off 7), Megan McColl (0/23 off 4), and Gabriella Fontenla (0/75 off 10) all chipped in despite missing out on the wickets column.
Chasing a target of 271, Scotland Women endured an early blow when opener Darcey Carter was caught by Zwilling off Carlijn van Koolwijk for 4 at 24/1 in the 6th over. Maryam Faisal (15 off 46) and Pippa Sproul stabilized the chase with a 34-run stand, but Silver Siegers broke through, having Faisal caught behind by De Leede at 58/2. Just one run later, Caroline de Lange trapped Charlotte Nevard lbw for a duck (59/3). Sproul found an able ally in Megan McColl, rebuilding with a fighting 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
McColl scored a brisk 33 off 38 balls before being caught by Rijke off Siegers at 132/4. The Dutch spin attack continued to tighten its grip as Sanya Khurana bowled Rebecca McCrossan for 5, and a sharp piece of fielding from Hannah Landheer saw Ellen Watson run out for 5 at 156/6. Sproul’s brilliant resistance finally ended at 181/7 when De Lange had her caught by Molkenboer for a valiant 79 off 102 balls.
Abtaha Maqsood offered late fight with 19 off 38 balls before being stumped by De Leede off Siegers at 205/8. Down the order, Gabriella Fontenla stayed unbeaten on 10, but Myrthe van den Raad bowled Maisie Maceira for 3 (212/9), and Iris Zwilling completed a run-out of Niamh Robertson-Jack for a duck to wrap up Scotland’s innings in 48.5 overs, heavily padded by 39 extras. The Dutch bowling unit delivered a complete team performance to seal the 58-run win.
Silver Siegers starred with the best figures of 3/42 in 10 overs, supported effectively by Caroline de Lange (2/41 off 10). Sanya Khurana (1/32 off 8), Carlijn van Koolwijk (1/30 off 8), and Myrthe van den Raad (1/27 off 5.5) all claimed a wicket apiece, while Hannah Landheer (0/26 off 5) and Robine Rijke (0/7 off 2) maintained tight control during their spells to secure a 1-0 lead in the series.
