Skipper Laura Delany starred with bat and ball as Ireland completed an unbeaten run in Group B of the Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi with a comprehensive 54-run win over the Netherlands.
It means Ireland will face Scotland in Sunday’s semi-finals, with the winners guaranteed a place in this year’s finals in Bangladesh in September and October.
Delany put in an outstanding individual performance against the Dutch, hitting an unbeaten 70 from 45 deliveries, with eight fours and two sixes, to lead Ireland to a total of 144 for four from their 20 overs. Eimear Richardson also played a huge part in the game’s vital partnership, making an unbeaten 34 from 32 deliveries as the pair put on 89 off 66 balls.
Orla Prendergast (3-26) took out three of the Dutch top four, with Delany (3-6) and Arlene Kelly (2-6) ensuring that their opponents were never on target for any sort of realistic chase as they were bowled out for 90 in the 18th over.
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Ireland 144-4 (20 ovs) (L Delany 70no, E Richardson 34no; I Zwilling 2-13) bt Netherlands 90 (17.3 ovs) (L Delany 3-6, O Prendergast 3-26, A Kelly 2-9) by 54 runs.
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