NETHERLANDS WIN BY FIVE WICKETS IN DRAMATIC FINISH TO LEVEL T20i SERIES AT 1-1

Netherlands women had been convincingly beaten by ten wickets in the first T20I but turned the tables on Thailand women as they gained a last ball victory by five wickets after looking to be comfortably on top for most of the second innings. Heather Siegers was promoted to open but it was Sterre Kalis coming in at three who was the match-winner although she was run out for 56 to ensure a tense finish. Thailand almost managed to fight back at the end but they missed many chances in the field and Netherlands deserved to gain their first victory over Thailand in an official T20I or ODI.

Thailand’s openers Nannapat Khoncaroenkai and Natthakan Chantham had shared an unbroken partnership of 90 in the first T20I and they were soon at the crease together again after Thailand won the toss and chose to bat first.

Nannapat hit an early boundary but she was out for 13 after Netherlands finally caught a catch in the field and Natthakan was dismissed for a score of under 40 for the first time in the six matches so far. Thailand were 46 for 2 after 10 overs with Chanida Sutthiruang going for her shots before being dismissed for 19 from 22 balls with 2 boundaries.

Thailand were 81 for 3 after 15 overs but Naruemol Chaiwai batted through to the end of the innings and played a scoop shot to the boundary in the final over as she made 40* from 44 balls with 3 fours. The Netherlands bowlers had largely restricted Thailand as off-spinner Eva Lynch took 3 for 25 and leg-spinner Caroline de Lange bowled her four overs for just 17. Thailand reached 113 for 5 in their 20 overs.

Netherlands lost a wicket in the first over of their innings as Babette de Leede was bowled by Nattaya Boochatham for 2 but Sterre Kalis came in to join captain Heather Siegers who had promoted herself to open on return from injury. The batters were much more positive against seam or spin and Netherlands reached 46 for 1 in their 6-over powerplay as Siegers and Kalis hit three boundaries apiece. The pair brought up their fifty partnership for the second wicket and Netherlands were 62 for 1 after 10 overs with 52 needed in the second half of the innings.

Even yesterday’s match-winner Suleeporn Laomi was hit for four first ball but left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong looked to have turned the match in Thailand’s favour as she took two wickets in the over as Siegers was caught at deep mid-on by Chanida and Robine Rijke was bowled for nought and the score was suddenly 69 for 3.

Kalist was still at the crease and batting with confidence as she still managed to find the boundary as she reached her fifty from 53 balls with 6 fours. Netherlands were 104 for 3 from 17 overs with only 10 more runs to win from 3 overs.

Drama then ensued when Kalis was run out for 56 thanks to a direct hit to the bowler’s end by Nattaya Boochatham and another wicket fell in the 18th over and only one run was conceded so nine runs were needed from 2 overs. Thipatcha bowled the 19th over with only three runs conceded and batters running in all directions as a run out was missed.

Nattaya bowled the 20th over with possible chances missed almost every ball as a dropped catch at deep mid-off saw two runs conceded and a single was run to a fumble in the field and a stumping chance missed. The ball was driven back to the bowler and was diverted off her knee for another single. Two runs to win from the final ball and Annemijn Thomson hit to long on for four and Netherlands had won by five wickets in a dramatic finish. The visitors had dominated the match but could have easily come up short in the end and Sterre Kalis was named player of the match for her innings of 56.