Alert women's team beats higher-ranked Thailand in T20I
Published at 11 July, 2023For the second time in history, the Dutch women have beaten Thailand in a T20I. Excellent bowling and fielding resulted in a mediocre Thai score of 92 all out. Thanks in large part to a captain's knock by Heather Siegers (49 not out), the Dutch went passed that score in 18.1 overs.
Heather Siegers won the toss and opted to bowl. In the first overs, Thailand did not score easily due to good bowling. A chance from Kanoh (then at 10) in the fourth over was dropped in the covers, but shortly after, Eva Lynch was alert off Robine Rijke (18/1). A carbon copy of this wicket followed in the same over: ct Lynch b Rijke.
Topbat Chantham came down the track to hit Caroline de Lange for four, but the bowler showed strength of character by coming back with two beauties. With the second she got Chantham out (ct Frédérique Overdijk): 36/3/8.
A slightly lesser phase by the Netherlands with a handful of sloppy throws resulted in some overthrows and a partnership of 27 for the fifth wicket. De Lange who was bowling excellently (2-14 in four overs) deserved and got a second wicket, ct Siegers (64/5/14). All the bowling changes also worked out well; in her second spell, Zwilling got Boochatham out caught behind (75/7). Moments later, Zwilling crowned her outstanding fielding with not one, but two direct hits: Thailand 92 all out on the penultimate ball of the innings. Babette de Leede took three catches, Eva Lynch two. Zwilling 2-13, De Lange 2-14, Rijke 2-22.
Netherlands innings
After the unfortunate run out of Robyn van Oosterom, Siegers and De Leede chose to attack with wonderful shots. It was 46/2/9.1 when De Leede (24) did not read Chaturongrattana's arm ball and was stumped. Heather Siegers was dropped at deep mid wicket, but led her team to a well-deserved victory with a classy 49 not out. Thailand is currently eleventh in the T20 ranking of the ICC and the Netherlands eighteenth.
Photo credit: KNCB
