ICC/CricketEurope

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The Netherlands set up a winner takes all clash with Ireland at The Hills tomorrow following their five wicket win over Scotland at North County.

They certainly didn’t have it all their own way and were indebted to a magnificent unbeaten 87 from Violet Wattenberg. The wicket keeper played an innings of genuine quality, working the ball into the gaps, and striking the occasional boundary.

She barely gave a chance in her knock, which occupied 110 balls, and contained four boundaries.

Not that it was a solo effort by Wattenberg – far from it. She received excellent support from all her team mates who scored at a sufficiently quick rate that she was able to anchor the run chase, and timed it to perfection.

Marijn Nijman crashed 40 from just 44 deliveries, including a towering six onto the pavilion roof. She also struck 6 fours, and hit the ball with real power and placement. She shared in a fourth wicket stand of 63 in just 11 overs, taking the Dutch from a precarious 108 for 3, to a much more comfortable 171 for 4.

In pursuit of a challenging 229 for victory, Wattenberg and Cheraldine Oudolf (28) added 74 in 17 overs for the first wicket, and that provided the perfect platform for the win.

Other worthy of a mention with the bat were Miranda Veringmeier (22), Annemarie Tanke (10), and Mandy Kornet (10*).

The Scottish bowlers persevered, but in truth weren’t anywhere near penetrative enough, and weren’t backed up by their fielders, with numerous overthrows, fumbled pick-ups and wayward throws. Throw in a few dropped catches, and it’s not difficult to see where the game was lost.

The wicket takers were Kathryn White (1-38), Lynne Dickson (1-40), Kari Anderson (1-46), and Fi Urquhart (1-46). Leigh Kasperek (0-19 from 6) was the most economical.

It had all seemed so bright for the Scots at the halfway stage, as they bounced back from their heavy defeat to Ireland by scoring a huge 228 for 7 in their 50 overs.

They hadn’t got off to the best of starts, as their rejigged opening batting line up was soon back in the pavilion, with a wicket apiece for Jolet Hartenhof and Mandy Kornet. At 8 for 2, another early finish looked on the cards, but Kari Anderson and Leigh Kasperek had other ideas.

The pair batted with great responsibility and skill, adding a superb 135 in 31 overs. Kasperek (58) struck six boundaries, and underlined just why she is so highly rated in the women’s game despite being just 17 years old.
Skipper Anderson top scored with 63 from 101 balls, including 5 boundaries, three of which came in the one over from Annemarie Tanke.

Kathryn White bludgeoned a rapid 40, adding 62 in 7 overs with Anderson, to get the Scots well over the 200 mark. White found the boundary ropes on four occasions, being being bowled in the closing stages by the impressive Mandy Kornet (2-28).

The Scottish total of 228 was bolsterd by the concession of 57 extras by The Netherlands, including 41 wides and six no balls. Two of those no-balls saw the removal of Marijn Nijman from the attack by the umpires.

In addition to Kornet, the wicket takers for The Netherlands were Annemarie Tanke (1-34), Evelien Gerrits (1-39), Marijn Nijman (1-40), and Jolet Hartenhof (1-41).

A very impressive batting performance from The Netherlands, but they will need to seriously improve on their bowling display if they are to defeat Ireland.