Ireland Women vs Netherlands Women – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 Preview

Match Details

• Date: Friday, 30th January 2026
• Venue: Mulpani Cricket Ground
• Start Time: 03:15 AM GMT | 09:00 AM Local | 08:45 AM IST

Match Overview

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier迎来 a crucial clash between Ireland Women and Netherlands Women on January 30, 2026. With both teams vying for a strong position in the tournament, this encounter promises to be a high-stakes contest.

Ireland, having bounced back from a close loss to Scotland with a significant win, will look to build momentum. Gaby Lewis remains a key figure with her consistent batting, while Arlene Kelly and Jane Maguire provide a strong bowling threat.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, are in a strong position and aim to dominate the qualifiers. With Sterre Kalis and Babette de Leede leading the batting and Isabel van der Woning and Heather Siegers excelling with the ball, the Dutch side is well-equipped to challenge the hosts.

Team Form and Strengths

Ireland Women

Ireland have shown resilience in the tournament, bouncing back from a narrow defeat to Scotland with a convincing victory. Gaby Lewis, in particular, has been in excellent form, averaging over 40 and striking at over 120. The Irish bowling attack, led by Jane Maguire and Arlene Kelly, has been effective, picking up key wickets regularly.

• Top Run-Scorer: Gaby Lewis (231 runs at 46.2, 126.22 SR)
• Top Wicket-Takers: Arlene Kelly (9 wickets at 14.22), Jane Maguire (8 wickets at 12.75)

Netherlands Women

The Netherlands have been a consistent force in the qualifiers, with Sterre Kalis spearheading the batting. Her average of 48.33 and strike rate of 109.84 make her a dangerous player. The Dutch have also been supported by all-rounders like Heather Siegers, who has contributed with both bat and ball.

• Top Run-Scorer: Sterre Kalis (145 runs at 48.33, 109.84 SR)
• Top Wicket-Takers: Isabel van der Woning (9 wickets at 6.33), Heather Siegers (4 wickets at 11.85)

Players to Watch

Ireland:

• Gaby Lewis (C): Ireland’s top run-scorer with a strike rate of 126.22 and a boundary rate of 19%.
• Jane Maguire: Wicket-taking machine with 8 wickets at an average of 12.75.
• Arlene Kelly: Leading wicket-taker for Ireland with 9 dismissals at 14.22.

Netherlands:

• Sterre Kalis: Consistent top-order performer with a strike rate of 109.84.
• Isabel van der Woning: Key bowler who averages 6.33 runs per wicket and frequently takes 3+ wickets per match.
• Heather Siegers: All-rounder with 67 runs and 4 wickets at an economy of 4.77.

Head-to-Head

In the last five encounters, Ireland have dominated with 5 wins to Netherlands’ 0. However, the current form and momentum could make this a more competitive match than the head-to-head suggests.

Venue Insights – Mulpani Cricket Ground

• Average First Innings Score (2022–2026): 134.09
• Win Percentage by Innings:
  • Batting First: 63.6%
  • Batting Second: 36.4%
• Bowling Statistics:
  • Fast Bowlers: Average 17.92, Economy Rate 6.29
  • Spin Bowlers: Average 26.28, Economy Rate 6.70

Given the venue's tendency to favor batting first, both teams may look to chase aggressively, depending on the toss.

Squads

Ireland:

Gaby Lewis (c), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell.

Netherlands:

Babette de Leede (c), Caroline de Lange, Frédérique Overdijk, Hannah Landheer, Heather Siegers, Iris Zwilling, Isabel van der Woning, Lara Leemhuis, Merel Dekeling, Myrthe van den Raad, Phebe Molkenboer, Robine Rijke, Sanya Khurana, Silver Siegers, Sterre Kalis.

Match Predictions

• Toss: Netherlands
• Match Winner: Netherlands
• Top Batters:
  • Gaby Lewis (Ireland)
  • Sterre Kalis (Netherlands)
• Top Bowlers:
  • Jane Maguire (Ireland)
  • Isabel van der Woning (Netherlands)
• Most Sixes:
  • Orla Prendergast (Ireland)
  • Heather Siegers (Netherlands)
• Player of the Match: Isabel van der Woning (Netherlands)
• Team Scores (Batting First):
  • Ireland: 120+
  • Netherlands: 130+

Key Insights

• Ireland’s Gaby Lewis is a match-winner when scoring over 50, which has happened in several key matches.
• Isabel van der Woning is a consistent wicket-taker, with 20% of her matches seeing her take 3+ wickets.
• Heather Siegers’ economy rate of under 6.00 in over half her games makes her a reliable option in the death overs.
• Leah Paul’s dot ball percentage of 35% could be a concern for Ireland’s bowling plans.
• The Netherlands’ all-round strength could give them the edge in this high-stakes clash.

Final Verdict

This is a must-win encounter for both teams. While Ireland’s recent dominance in the head-to-head is in their favor, the Netherlands’ current form and strong all-round capabilities make them the slight favorites. The toss could prove decisive, especially given the venue's bias towards batting first. Expect a thrilling contest with the top batters and bowlers delivering their best.

Prediction: Netherlands to win the match.
Score Prediction (Ireland vs Netherlands): Netherlands 135/6, Ireland 128/8.

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