Let us take a look at the key highlights of the four-match T20I series between Ireland Women and Netherlands Women in Dublin.
First T20I, 26 July
Ireland 160/6 in 20 overs (Laura Delany 61; Eva Lynch 2-14) beat Netherlands 132/7 in 20 overs (Miranda Veringmeier 33; Lara Maritz 3-13) by 28 runs. Player of the Match: Laura Delany.
Ireland won the first T20I by 28 runs. They finished on 160/6 after Heather Siegers won the toss and asked them to bat. Laura Delany top-scored with a 43-ball 61, while Orla Prendergast chipped in with a 13-ball 27 not out to help them reach this total. Frederique Overdijk (2-24) and Eva Lynch (2-14) claimed two wickets each.
But Overdijk then took 38 balls for her 19 after coming to open. The chase was never on the cards from there. Miranda Veringmeier (33 runs in 15 balls) and Robine Rijke (30* in 28) then took Netherlands to a respective 132/7. Lara Maritz was the pick of the Irish bowlers, with 3-13.
Second T20I, 28 July (rescheduled date)
Match called off without toss due to persistent rain
The second T20I between these sides was initially scheduled for 27 July, but rain forced to shift the date a day after. Still, the result was the same as the on-field umpires abandoned this fixture without a ball being bowled.
Third T20I, 29 July
Netherlands 109/5 in 20 overs (Miranda Veringmeier 60; Orla Prendergast 2-14) lost to Ireland 110/4 in 11.3 overs (Gaby Lewis 52; Silver Siegers 2-24) by 6 wickets with 51 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Gaby Lewis.
Ireland overpowered Netherlands in the third T20I with a six-wicket win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. Chasing 110, Gaby Lewis hit 11 fours in her unbeaten 29-ball 52 to guide Ireland reach the target with 51 balls to spare.
Earlier, Miranda Veringmeier had top-scored in Netherlands’ 109/5 with a 50-ball 60 after they opted to bat. Ireland bowled tightly throughout the innings, especially Orla Prendergast (4-0-14-2).
Fourth T20I, 30 July
Ireland 101/2 in 15 overs (Rebecca Stokell 48; Eva Lynch 1-21) lost to Netherlands 119/3 in 13.3 overs (Babette de Leede 62*; Celeste Raack 1-8) by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare (DLS Method). Player of the Match: Babette de Leede 62.
Babette de Leede starred with bat to help Netherlands beat Ireland for the first time in Women’s T20Is. Still, the series ended up in Ireland’s favour 2-1.
Chasing a revised target of 119 in 15 overs under the DLS method, de Leede hit eight fours and two sixes in her unbeaten 35-ball 62 to help Netherlands reach the target with nine balls to spare. Barring de Leede, Miranda Veringmeier (29) was the only Dutch batter who reached double figures in this innings.
Earlier, Rebecca Stokell (48) and Delany (39*) shared an 85-run second-wicket stand to help Ireland reach 101/2 after being put in. Lynch returned 1-21, while Iris Zwilling had 3-0-18-0.