Ireland aim to power ahead with bowling surplus at their disposal

There is no substitute for game-time. And that was evident in the way Ireland and Netherlands went about with their business in the first T20I at The Village in Malahide, Dublin.

Hosts Ireland played international cricket a couple of months ago against Scotland. As a result, their middle order had some time in the middle already which helped them in the first game. Two early wickets didn’t deter them as captain Laura Delany and wicketkeeper-batter Shauna Kavanagh’s partnership of 69-run partnership brought them back on track. Delany hit her maiden T20I fifty and turned around her form from the series against Scotland.

Netherlands, on the other hand, were coming back to the big arena for the first time since September 2019. They, thus, couldn’t stem the flow of runs easily despite the two quick wickets at the start. “I think everyone was a bit nervous getting back to action. I think the nerves are gone now,” said captain Heather Siegers after the match. The tourists’ start with the bat wasn’t the fastest.

But Netherlands would seek inspiration from the hitting form of the middle order batter, Miranda Veringmeier. She walked in at two for 41 and then saw a set batter depart soon. But she scored a quick 15-ball 33 to accelerate the innings and that phase saw Netherlands score 47 runs in just under five overs. It is probably a template the rest of the visiting team batter would look to emulate in the second T20I on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Netherlands series important in lead up to European Qualifiers: Ed Joyce



Their batting outing would also inspire the team to do well in the second innings, given that they got to 132 after not having the quickest of starts. Eva Lynch and Fredrique Overdijk returned two wickets apiece in what is another positive for them.

Ireland’s bowling surplus would please them to no end. All players except Kavanagh, Rebecca Stokell and Gaby Lewis had a bowl and that could come to Delany’s aid in case one of the bowlers has an off day. Orla Prendergast continued her stupendous run from a couple of months ago and that would be a massive boost for Ireland.

It is a short series with very little turnaround time between the first two games. Will Ireland continue their supremacy and take a step closer to sealing the series or will Netherlands level it?

Squads

Ireland: Laura Delany (c), Ava Canning, Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Sophie MacMahon, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron

Netherlands: Heather Siegers (c), Babette de Leede (vc), Annemijn van Beuge, Annemijn Thomson, Eva Lynch, Frederique Overdijk, Hannah Landheer, Iris Zwilling, Isabel van der Woning, Julia Corder, Juliet Post, Miranda Veringmeier, Robine Rijke, Silver Siegers