Ireland's women beat Dutch in T20 opener

Ireland's women twice defeated their Dutch hosts in a Twenty20 series in Utrecht on Saturday, giving the Irish some compensation for the loss of the European Women's Championship earlier in the week.

Ireland reinforced their squad with the addition of three players - Cecilia Joyce, Claire Shillington and Eimar Richardson - but it was two members of the younger brigade who seized the initiative from the start of the first match, 15-year-old Kim Garth and 17-year-old Louise McCarthy reducing the Dutch to 13 for three in the first four overs after Isobel Joyce had won the toss and put the home side in.

Esther Lanser fought back with an innings of 55, made from 48 deliveries, and she and Violet Wattenberg added 47 in less than ten overs, but when she was trapped in front by Laura Delany and shortly afterwards Garth returned to end a promising contribution from Denise Hannema, the Dutch could only manage a fairly modest 106 for eight.

Garth finished with three for 6 from her three overs, while Isobel Joyce had two for 21.

The Irish skipper then settled the issue with her bat, sharing a stand of 81 with her twin Cecilia, who made 35. When Cecilia departed Isobel continued in tandem with Richardson, and she finished on an undefeated 48, made from 43 deliveries with four boundaries, as Ireland won by eight wickets with 22 balls to spare.