The Netherlands forgets to reward itself for excellent fielding performance

With Iris Zwilling and Frédérique Overdijk, Netherlands had a steady start bowling first. However, after the first changes, Thailand - helped by a number of wides - was able to accelerate to 67/0 after eleven overs.

A good moment to involve the spinners to bring the runrate down. Caroline de Lange and Eva Lynch succeeded excellently. Tippoch (19) hit at a loopy half volley into the hands of Heather Siegers in the covers and Chantham (42) hit a full toss into the hands of Iris Zwilling on the boundary. Halfway through the innings it was 114/3 which meant the runrate had been reduced from 6 to 4.5 per over.

The seamers came back into the attack. This change also worked out well when Overdijk (1-25) cleaned Laomi and the tightly bowling Zwilling (2-33) had Koncharoenkai caught by Jolien van Vliet. Suddenly a score was on the board that looked promising for the Netherlands: 136/5.

The Dutch kept the pressure on and continued to take wickets, including the first One Day wicket by Gwen Bloemen (1-30). Caroline de Lange bowled fantastically well (2-30 in her ten overs) and Eva Lynch came off the field with the dream figures 4-33. Thailand was all out for 176.

Netherlands innings

41/0 after ten overs was exactly the opening the Netherlands will have hoped for; an acceptable strike rate and above all: ten wickets in hand. After twenty overs (73/0) there were still no wickets down.

The first wicket fell in the 22nd over when Babette de Leede (36) was caught on the long on boundary: 80/1. After the fall of two quick wickets (85/3) a recovery was necessary. On paper, the assignment was simple: take the singles and forget about unnecessary 'big shots'.

Sterre Kalis reached her 50 in the 31st, but was run out a little later for a well-made 54. At 116/5 after 34 overs it was still anybody's game.

Iris Zwilling and Frédérique Overdijk patiently built what could have been a crucial partnership. Unfortunately for the Netherlands, Zwilling (18) could not finish it. When Lynch was dismissed first ball, Thailand smelled blood, especially when Overdijk (28) - after having just hit a boundary - hit the ball into the hands of the mid on fielder.

The tailenders were unable to get the job done. After 80/1 and 154/6, the Netherlands lost its last four wickets for fourteen runs in the space of three overs. With 23 balls to go, the Dutch were all out, only nine runs away from the modest target. Eight players were caught.

Coach Shane Deitz: "Much improved performance by the girls today, we talked about being more aggressive and controlling the game more. We did that for 70% of the game but we somehow managed to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. 37 wides and the top order giving their wickets away cost us the game. Just small margins of error but at this level that is the difference.”

“Saying that very proud of the girls, we trained hard on the rest day and were up for the fight which we achieved. We just need to learn how to win but that will come with time, confidence and self belief. We have 6 opportunities ahead of us and we are determined to keep getting better everyday. Frustrating but lots of positives to focus on and be ready for the next opportunity.”