17 June,2026 11:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Team India (Pic: AFP)
Team India defeated Netherlands by 95 runs to move to the top of the table, ahead of Australia, on net run rate. India's win was set up in the first innings by brilliant fifties by openers Smriti Mandhana and Shefali Verma.
Chasing a massive target of 210 runs to win, Netherlands started off strongly, but lost their way after the fall of the first wicket on 34 runs. Captain Babette de Leede was their best batter, scoring 28 runs, including three boundaries.
Heather Siegers scored a quickfire 21 runs with four boundaries but it was too little too late for the Dutch as they lost their final five wickets for just one run.
For India, Shree Charani starred with the ball, taking four wickets for just 19 runs in his spell of four overs. Shafali Verma too chipped in with three wickets as India cruised to a win.
Despite a convincing win, there was an injury concern for India as spinner Shreyanka Patil was stretchered off after an ankle injury. The Indian star has already suffered serious injuries during her career so far, and Team India will hope that she will be back in action soon.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was the star yet again with the bat for India as they scored a mammoth 209 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the end of 20 overs against Netherlands.
Having been put into bat, Mandhana and Shefali Verma stitched together an impressive opening partnership of 115 runs in just 70 balls to give Team India a quick start. Verma departed for a brilliant innings of 55 runs in 38 balls, which included 10 boundaries.
Mandhana departed after a well-made 75 runs as she tried to score quick runs in the death overs. Richa Ghosh scored 20 runs in 9 balls to take India to a massive score of 209 runs at the end of 20 overs.
For Netherlands, Caroline de Lange was the best bowler, finishing her spell with two wickets for 32 runs, while Myrthe van den Raad chipped in with one wicket.
