Let us take a look at the key highlights of Matches 1, 2, and 3 of the 2021 Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier that took place in Cartagena on 26 August.
Netherlands v Scotland, Cartagena
Netherlands 98/5 in 20 overs (Robine Rijke 43; Katie McGill 1-11) lost to Scotland 99/4 in 16.3 overs (Sarah Bryce 46; Caroline de Lange 4-17) by 6 wickets with 21 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Sarah Bryce.
Scotland began the tournament with a comfortable six-wicket win over Netherlands in the opening match. They first restricted Netherlands to 98/5, and then chased it down with 21 balls to spare.
Robine Rijke top-scored with 43 in Netherlands total after Kathryn Bryce won the toss and asked them to bat. Heather Siegers also made 31, but failed to accelerate. Bryce returned impressive figures of 4-0-12-1, and she receive great support from her teammates.
Coming to chase, Sarah Bryce (46 in 36 balls) and Lorna Jack (21) added 69 in 59 balls before Caroline de Lange caught and bowled them in successive overs, and then took two more wickets in quick time.
Unfortunately, none of her teammates provided her with support. Maximising on the start provided by the openers, Scotland chased down the low target with ease.
Ireland v Germany, Cartagena
Ireland 196/2 in 20 overs (Gaby Lewis 105*; Bianca Loch 1-21) beat Germany 32/3 in 20 overs (Christina Gough 14; Eimear Richardson 2-5) by 164 runs. Player of the Match: Gaby Lewis.
Ireland were too strong for Germany in Match 2.
Riding on Gaby Lewis’ brilliant 60-ball 105 not out – the first T20I hundred for Ireland Women – they piled 196/2 after being put in. Rebecca Stokell (44) and Laura Delany (22) also chipped in with useful contributions. Stephanie Frohnmayer (0-17) and Bianca Loch (1-21) bowled well, but the rest of the German bowlers conceded more than nine an over.
Germany did not show any intention to go for the chase. They batted all 20 overs and posted just 32/3. Christina Gough and Anuradha Doddaballapur took 58 and 29 balls for their 14 and 5 respectively.
France v Netherlands, Cartagena
France 33 in 17.3 overs (Tara Britton 5; Frederique Overdijk 7-3) lost to Netherlands 34/1 in 3.3 overs (Robine Rijke 21; Thea Graham 1-11) by 9 wickets with 99 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Frederique Overdijk.
Netherlands could not stage a better comeback in their second match of the day. They wrapped France up for just 33 in 17.3 overs, and then chased it down in 3.3 overs.
Frederique Overdijk was the star of the show. She returned 4-2-3-7, the first seven-wicket haul in T20 Internationals across gender (and obviously the best figures).
Overdijk was assisted by Marloes Braat (1-9), Eva Lynch (3-1-3-1) and Silver Siegers (1-6). No French batter scored more than five, though there were 14 extras.
Heather Siegers fell for a golden duck after coming to the chase, but Robine Rijke (21) and Babette de Leede (10) did not take much time to finish things off.