The third day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division 1 Qualifier 2025 in vibrant Rotterdam was a showcase for two powerhouse teams—Ireland Women and Netherlands Women—who both delivered standout performances that solidified their positions among the tournament’s elite. Ireland made their mark by defeating Italy decisively by 63 runs in the morning match, while the host nation, Netherlands, put on a thrilling display, obliterating Germany with a staggering 202-run victory, establishing the largest margin seen in this tournament so far.
Ireland Women outplay Italy with balanced all-round show
Ireland set a confident tone early on with a methodical performance against Italy. Chosen to bat first, they faced an early hiccup but quickly recovered thanks to Gaby Lewis, who showcased her skill with a graceful 42 off 37 balls. She found crucial partnerships that steadied the inning. Quick contributions from Orla Prendergast (23 off 16) and captain Laura Delany (28* off 19) kept the momentum going, while Rebecca Stokell’s spirited innings (38* off 24) propelled Ireland to a hefty total of 166/4 in 20 overs. Despite Italy’s bowlers putting in hard work, Ilenia Sims stood out with figures of 2/26. Unfortunately for Italy, 14 wides severely dented their chances.
Italy’s chase, however, was stymied right from the outset. They struggled to 20/3 in the powerplay as Prendergast wreaked havoc. While Chloe Piparo (29 off 23) and Annie Wikman (29 off 34) made valiant attempts to stabilize the innings, Ireland’s bowlers were relentless. Arlene Kelly’s brilliant spell of 3/7 was the highlight of Ireland’s bowling attack, further supported by Ava Canning, Freya Sargent, Alana Dalzell, and Prendergast, all contributing with a wicket. Italy managed a mere 103 runs for their innings, falling short by 63 runs as Ireland celebrated a thoroughly professional display both with the bat and ball.
Netherlands Women produce a record-breaking performance
If Ireland’s victory was commanding, the Netherlands’ win was an outright demolition. Their batters went all out, amassing a remarkable 255/3— the highest score of the tournament to date—against a German attack that suffered with 32 extras. The star of the show was Heather Siegers, who set the field ablaze with an impressive 106* off just 55 balls, striking 18 boundaries. Her partnership with Phebe Molkenboer (73 off 41) was particularly destructive, combining for 116 runs in a blistering 9.5 overs. Contributions from skipper Babette de Leede (26 off 14) and Frederique Overdijk (16* off 11) added further insult to injury for Germany, skyrocketing the scoreboard past the 250 mark.
Germany’s response disintegrated almost immediately. Iris Zwilling’s new-ball burst (3/6 in 3 overs) dismantled their top order, leaving them with a shocking 5/3. Recovery was all but impossible, as Caroline de Lange (2/4), Hannah Landheer (2/11), Silver Siegers (2/16), and Sanya Khurana (1/10) polished off the tail with ruthless efficiency. Only Rameesha Shahid (14 off 15) showed a flicker of resistance as Germany crumbled for just 53 runs in 17.2 overs, suffering a staggering defeat by 202 runs.
This double-header in Rotterdam clearly illustrated the significant gap in quality between the tournament’s frontrunners and the chasing pack. With Ireland’s composed all-round performance and the Netherlands’ record-breaking prowess, both teams not only bolstered their positions on the leaderboard but also sent a resounding message of their determination to secure the top two spots for qualification in the global event.
With three wins from three matches, Ireland stands proudly at the top of the table (6 points, NRR +2.867), trailed closely by the Netherlands, who sit at 4 points with an even more impressive NRR of +3.959. Italy finds itself in third place with one victory, while Germany remains winless after three matches.
Image Source: Arlene Kelly @ Instagram
