Playing Australia at a World Cup is incredible, says Babette De Leede after the Netherlands' defeat to Australia
Southampton, June 20
Netherlands captain Babette de Leede described her side's Women's T20 World Cup clash against Australia as a "massive moment" for Dutch cricket despite suffering a 98-run defeat to the six-time champions.
Australia piled up an imposing 219/6 after being put in to bat, with Beth Mooney leading the charge with a brilliant 74 off 42 balls and Ashleigh Gardner hammering 58 from 32 deliveries. The six-time champions then restricted the Netherlands to 121/3, although the Dutch side earned praise for their spirited batting display.
For De Leede, the match carried added significance as she and teammate Robine Rijke both celebrated their 100th T20 International appearances.
"I think this is a massive moment for us as a team, and also for me personally. Together with Robine Rijke, we played our 100th T20I against the best team in the world at a World Cup. It doesn't get much better than this," De Leede said after the match.
The Netherlands captain led from the front with an unbeaten half-century while sharing a resilient partnership with Sterre Kalis as the Dutch side avoided a collapse against one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket.
De Leede said facing a team of Australia's calibre was an invaluable learning experience for her side as they continue to develop on the international stage.
"It's a massive opportunity for us. I think Australia is a quality team. Just to be able to play against them, learn from them, and see how they go about their innings is incredible," she said.
Australia's innings showcased the depth and power that have made them the dominant force in women's cricket, with Mooney and Gardner setting the tone before the bowlers kept the Netherlands under pressure despite the resistance from De Leede and Kalis.
The Dutch skipper also acknowledged the strong support her team received from fans in Southampton, many of whom turned out in orange to cheer on the Associate nation.
"I think also to have our home supporters here is such a special opportunity, and they were very loud, which was great for us," De Leede added.
While the result strengthened Australia's position at the top of Group 1, the Netherlands left the contest with valuable experience and several positives to build on, particularly their determination with the bat against the tournament favourites.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Love seeing women's cricket grow globally. Netherlands played with heart and avoided a total collapse against the best bowling attack. That 121/3 is actually commendable. Indian fans should appreciate this - we know how tough Aussie women are, having lost to them in the T20 World Cup finals. Respect to De Leede and her team! 👏
This article brings back memories of watching India's women's team rise over the years. The Dutch captain's perspective is refreshing - instead of focusing on the loss, she sees the bigger picture. Developing cricket in non-traditional nations takes this kind of vision. Hopefully, Netherlands can qualify for more World Cups and keep improving!
Honestly, a 98-run loss is still a big margin, but the Dutch showed character. I just wish the ICC would do more to support Associate nations - more matches against top teams, better funding. It's not fair that teams like Netherlands only get to play Australia once every few years. De Leede has the right mindset though.
As someone who follows both men's and women's cricket, it's heartening to see the sport's global expansion. The Dutch team should be proud - they didn't get bowled out for 50 like some bigger teams might have against this Aussie attack. The orange-clad fans in Southampton sound amazing! Hope to see women's cricket from Netherlands on TV more often in India. 🇮🇳🇳🇱
De Leede's perspective is what makes cricket special - it's not just about winning or losing, it's about
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