An intensive month of women’s and girls’ cricket continued in Deventer on Saturday when two Dutch representative teams took on Denmark in a brace of Twenty20 matches, which formed part of the Danes’ preparations for the developing nations’ tournament in Jersey later this month.

As with the games against the Continental Women’s XI last weekend, the home sides comprised a mix of national team players, experienced club cricketers and members of national youth squads, in the latter case including players from the Under-13 and Under-17 Lionesses teams which had just returned from visits to England.

Both Dutch sides proved too strong for the Danes, winning by five wickets and eight wickets respectively.

Denmark batted first in the morning match, and were restricted to 103 for seven, largely due to the effectiveness of the Netherlands A spinners, comprising Esther de Lange (three for 18), Caroline de Lange and Annemijn Thomson.

Eva Christensen top-scored for the visitors with 32, while Mette Rasmussen remained unbeaten on 25.

Denmark then made the home side fight all the way for victory, with the winning runs coming off the final ball of their twenty overs. Christine Erkelens made 34, Charlotte Fuchs 18 and Thomson 22, while Kathrine Brock was the most successful of the Danish bowlers with two for 22.

Camilla Østergaard and Anne Mette Kopperholdt picked up a wicket apiece, and Shanseta Thanikaithasan and Line Østergaard were miserly, conceding just 15 and 17 runs respectively from their four overs.

Line Østergaard figured prominently with the bat in the second match, against Netherlands B, compiling an excellent 43, and she was supported by Camilla Østergaard with 18 as Denmark reached 117 for five.

Five Dutch bowlers – Jetske Parée, Amber de Groot, Eline Wijdicks, Puck van Brakel and Silver Siegers – each took one wicket.

The home side’s reply was dominated by a disciplined innings by former national captain Helmien Rambaldo, who made 53 and shared stands of 48 with Jolien van Vliet and 58 with Pietje Suurenbroek.

By the time Rambaldo eventually departed just 12 runs were needed for the win, and Julia van der Werf finished it off in style with a punishing series of boundaries, giving her side victory with 22 deliveries to spare. Suurenbroek remained not out on 20.

The Deventer series continues on Sunday, with Denmark playing against the Netherlands Under-17 side and Germany then playing two matches against Netherlands A and B.