ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division 1 Qualifier opens with dramatic results as Netherlands and Ireland secure strong wins
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division 1 Qualifier kicked off with a bang, bringing together some of Europe’s rising female cricketers as teams chase a coveted spot on cricket’s global stage. The two completed fixtures showcased contrasting styles: a disciplined Netherlands performance that set up a 43-run win over Italy, and a dominant Ireland display that chased down Germany’s modest target inside 15 overs to win by 10 wickets.
Match 1: Netherlands Women vs Italy Women
The opening clash saw the Netherlands post a competitive 157/7 from 20 overs after Italy won the toss and opted to field. Opener Heather Siegers fell early, but skipper Babette de Leede anchored the innings with 52 off 42 balls. Robine Rijke added a brisk 29 from 18, and late cameos from Myrthe van den Raad (20 off 14) and Iris Zwilling (25* off 19) helped lift the total. Italy’s bowlers kept it tight in the middle overs, with Emma Moore finishing 2/33 and tight spells from Chathurika Mahamalage (1/17) and Alexia Kontopirakis (1/23).
Chasing 158, Italy could not sustain momentum. Methnara Rathnayake departed for a duck, and Dilaisha Nanayakkara managed only 1, putting early pressure on the Italian chase. Although Kontopirakis (12) and captain Emilia Bartram (9) did their best to rebuild, wickets fell at regular intervals, and Italy were all out for 114 in 20 overs. For the Netherlands, a well-rounded bowling performance sealed the win, with Isabel van der Woning (2/19) and Iris Zwilling (2/23) striking early blows and Caroline de Lange (1/16) applying the squeeze in the middle overs.
With this result, the Dutch women began their campaign on a high, highlighting both depth in the batting lineup and discipline in the bowling unit.
Match 2: Germany Women vs Ireland Women
Ireland carried their momentum into Match 2 with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Germany, chasing 63 in just 7.3 overs. Germany’s innings never got going as opening pair Wilhelmina Hornero-Garcia and Karthika Vijayaraghavan both fell for 1, and the innings collapsed from the start. Christina Gough offered the lone resistance with 28 off 39, but she found little support as Germany were bowled out for 62 in 18.2 overs.
Ireland’s bowlers, led by captain Laura Delany, ran through the German lineup. Delany claimed 4/9 in 2.2 overs, supported by Ava Canning (2/10), while Orla Prendergast (1/4), Arlene Kelly (1/7), and Cara Murray (1/14) kept the pressure on throughout.
Ireland’s reply was clinical. Openers Amy Hunter, unbeaten on 31 off 32, and captain Gaby Lewis, 29* off 22, guided Ireland to the target with an unbroken stand, reaching 63/0 in 7.3 overs.
Players to watch from these results include Ireland’s explosive top order and Germany’s struggles with the bat, which they’ll be hoping to rectify as the tournament progresses. The Netherlands’ balanced performance also signals a strong challenge in the qualifiers for Europe’s emerging teams.
Summary and outlook
The opener results underline the growing depth of women’s cricket across Europe. Ireland’s clinical display shows they are well-placed to push for qualification, while the Netherlands demonstrated a well-rounded team effort with contributions across both batting and bowling. Germany will look to tighten its batting and recover quickly, and Italy will aim to convert early promise into more consistent performances as the event continues.
Additional notes
– The tournament continues to spotlight the rise of women’s cricket in Europe, offering valuable international exposure to players from emerging cricket nations.
– Fans can look forward to more competitive fixtures as teams seek to cement their places on the global stage.