Dutch women show resilience and fighting spirit in first World Cup qualifying match
Published at 18 January, 2026The Dutch women's team has won its first World Cup qualifying match from Zimbabwe. It was 122-100 in an attractive match.
The Dutch were sent in. The promising first over delivered sixteen runs. After the fall of two wickets, Sterre Kalis (26) and Phebe Molkenboer (27) made a partnership of 53 runs for the third wicket. The Dutch reached 71/3/9.5 on the penultimate ball for the drinks break.
However, a collapse resulted in 107/8 despite contributions from Robine Rijke, Frédérique Overdijk and Sanya Khurana in the middle order. 122 all out was the end result. Chatonzwa took 5-22 for her team.
Zimbabwe innings
Soon it was 19/2, thanks in part to a beauty by Robine Rijke. It was even 24/4 and halfway through the innings Zimbabwe needed more than eighty runs for the win.
Thanks to tight bowling and fielding, the required run rate even continued to rise. A fantastic fielding action by substitute Hannah Landheer made for 49/5 and a flashy stumping from Babette de Leede for 57/6.
Gwanzura gave Zimbabwe a spark of hope with several boundaries. 45 were asked from five overs and 41 out of four. Isabelle van der Woning had a great spell with 2-4. Zimbabwe did not get beyond 100/8 thanks to an impressive team effort from the Netherlands. Obviously, the bowling figures were brilliant with five bowlers taking wickets.
The win gives the Dutch confidence for the match against Scotland on Tuesday, January 20.
Result
NL Women vs ZIM Women, 3rd Match, Group B
Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier
NL-W 122
ZIM-W 100/8
NL Women won by 22 runs
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