Heather Siegers shepherded Netherlands to their first ever women’s T20I victory over Bangladesh with a half-century and a three-for in Edinburgh. The 29-year-old allrounder helped the Dutch put up a total of 162 for 5 and helped defend it in some style too. With Nigar Sultana at the crease on 73 off 49, an equation of 18 off the last six balls was difficult but not unattainable. But Sigers took down her partner Ritu Moni first, then Sultana and wrapped the victory up with a wicket off the last ball. A day after conceding their first loss in women’s T20Is to Scotland, Bangladesh had slumped again.

Having been put in to bat in the third match of the tri-series in Edinburgh, Netherlands made a fine start. Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer put on 57 runs for the opening stand in 8.1 overs. Bangladesh were able to come back from that through left-arm seamer Fariha Trisna‘s 4-0-26-2 and might have had hopes of chasing a more modest total. But captain Babette de Leede (16 off 7) and Robine Rijke (18* off 10) found the higher gear Netherlands needed at the death. Forty-five runs came off the last four overs.

Bangladesh were 13 for 2 inside four overs in the chase. That brought Sultana in and as well as she held one end up, getting to her 12th T20I fifty in 39 balls, the other end kept losing wickets. Heather’s sister Silver picked up 2 for 24 with her legbreaks to leave Bangladesh at 117 for 5 in the 17th over. Moni (17 off 12) and Sultana tried their best to make a game out of it. But in the end, it was all in vain.