Ireland claim European Championships

Ireland captured the Senior Women's European Championships at The Hills with yet another comprehensive ten wicket victory, this time against The Netherlands.

It was almost an action replay of their win against Scotland, as they chased down a poor Netherlands total of just 68.

Eimear Richardson and Cecelia Joyce were in no bother whatsoever, knocking off the runs with the minimum of fuss in just 13.2 overs.

Richardson faced 34 balls for her unbeaten 28, being particularly strong off the back foot through point and the cover region. She struck three boundaries and played with great timing, power and placement.

Her fellow opening partner Cecelia Joyce was equally as impressive, hitting 35 not out from 47 deliveries, finding the boundary five times. Joyce too played some very powerful shots, although she favoured the square leg and midwicket region.

Earlier in the day The Netherlands had made a solid start after winning the toss and electing to bat. Their opening pair of Violet Wattenberg and Cheraldine Odoulf survived a run out scare in the opening over, to put on 32, before their luck ran out, when a mix up saw them both at the one end, and Odoulf sacrificed herself to save her more established partner.

From then it was a trial by spin, which The Netherlands failed miserably. They simply had no answer to the wiles and variations of 'spin twins' Eimear Richardson and Ciara Metcalfe.

Richardson benefited from bowling straight, picking up no fewer than four lbw verdicts in her favour, finishing with the excellent analysis of 5 for 13.

Metcalfe impressed in her first outing of the tournament, taking 4 for 21, including the prized wicket of Wattenberg for 34. She struck five boundaries, and faced 77 balls in total. The score when she departed was 45 for 2, and in no time at all the Dutch middle and lower order capitulated, as they were skittled for 68 in 32.4 overs.

No other batsman reached double figures, and they will be bitterly disappointed following their excellent batting display yesterday.