The third day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division 1 Qualifier 2025 in Rotterdam belonged entirely to the two fancied sides—Ireland Women and Netherlands Women—who registered emphatic wins to underline their credentials for the top spot. While Ireland outclassed Italy by 63 runs in the morning fixture, hosts Netherlands turned the clash into a spectacle with a crushing 202-run victory over Germany, the biggest margin of the tournament so far.
Ireland Women outplay Italy with balanced all-round show
Ireland set the tone early in the day with a clinical performance against Italy. Asked to bat first, they shrugged off an early setback as Gaby Lewis (42 off 37) played with characteristic elegance, stitching partnerships that steadied the innings. Quick contributions from Orla Prendergast (23 off 16) and captain Laura Delany (28* off 19) ensured momentum never dipped. The late flourish came through Rebecca Stokell (38* off 24), whose stroke-filled cameo lifted Ireland to a commanding 166/4 in 20 overs. Italy’s bowlers toiled hard, with Ilenia Sims (2/26) the only standout, but 14 wides proved costly.
The chase, however, never really took off. Italy crumbled to 20/3 inside the powerplay, with Prendergast striking early. Chloe Piparo (29 off 23) and Annie Wikman (29 off 34) tried to resist, but Ireland’s bowlers were relentless. Arlene Kelly’s sensational spell of 3/7 was the highlight, ably supported by Ava Canning, Freya Sargent, Alana Dalzell and Prendergast, each chipping in with a wicket. Italy limped to 103/7, falling well short by 63 runs, as Ireland celebrated a thoroughly professional display with both bat and ball.
Netherlands Women produce a record-breaking performance
If Ireland’s victory was commanding, the Netherlands’ win was nothing short of a demolition. Their batters ran riot to post a tournament-high 255/3, punishing a wayward German attack that sprayed 32 extras. The showstopper was Heather Siegers, who lit up Rotterdam with a blazing 106* off 55 balls, striking 18 boundaries. She found the perfect partner in Phebe Molkenboer (73 off 41), the duo adding 116 runs in just 9.5 overs. Cameos from skipper Babette de Leede (26 off 14) and Frederique Overdijk (16* off 11) only added to Germany’s misery as the scoreboard raced past 250.
Germany’s chase disintegrated almost instantly. Iris Zwilling’s new-ball burst (3/6 in 3 overs) ripped out the top order, leaving them 5/3. The rest never recovered, with Caroline de Lange (2/4), Hannah Landheer (2/11), Silver Siegers (2/16) and Sanya Khurana (1/10) cleaning up the tail in ruthless fashion. Only Rameesha Shahid (14 off 15) offered brief resistance, as Germany folded for 53 in 17.2 overs, conceding defeat by a staggering 202 runs.
The double-header in Rotterdam showcased the gulf in quality between the tournament’s frontrunners and the chasing pack. Ireland’s composed all-round display and Netherlands’ record-breaking dominance not only strengthened their positions in the table but also sent a clear message about their intent to claim the two qualification spots in the global qualifying event.
Ireland sits firmly at the top with three wins from three matches (6 points, NRR +2.867), followed by Netherlands on 4 points with an even stronger NRR of +3.959. Italy trail in third with a single win, while Germany remains winless after three outings.
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