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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – Arlene Kelly returned her second career five-wicket haul in T20Is and captain Gaby Lewis led by the front in the run chase with a half-century as Ireland Women brushed past the Netherlands at the European Qualifier today.

Losing the toss, Lewis initially rued the missed chance to bat first on what looked a flat batting track – however, that disappointment soon turned to delight as the Irish bowlers struck early and restricted the Netherlands to 36-1 in the first powerplay.

Babette de Leede (23) and Rabine Rijke (25) sought to consolidate the Dutch innings, but Kelly was then thrown the ball. The medium-pace all-rounder ran through the Dutch batting line up, including taking wickets on the last two balls of the innings. Kelly’s Player of the Match performance was the second time she had registered a 5-wicket haul, today’s 5-14 just shaded as her best by her 5-12 against the same opponent in 2023.

The Netherlands were bowled out for 110 from 18.5 overs, while well below par it at least gave the home side something to bowl at.

In comparison to the recent totals Ireland Women have posted in recent times, a reading of the scorecard may have given the impression of a languid innings, but nothing could be further from the truth. Despite losing Christina Coulter Reilly (7) early, Lewis (56) and Orla Prendergast (49) dug in and played an adaptive innings on a pitch that was playing low, slow and difficult to navigate at times. Lewis paced her innings well, hitting the gaps with her customary drives through the off-side or pull shots through mid-wicket.

Prendergast chose a more aerial route at times – her six off de Lange was a perfectly timed loft over mid-off.

In the shadow of victory, both Lewis and Prendergast fell, but Amy Hunter scrambled through for a single off the first ball of the last over to claim victory.

With one game still to play, Ireland has now definitively qualified for the Global Qualifier that will be held in Nepal in January.

See full scorecard