YOUNG SCOTS SUFFER DEFEAT TO DOMINANT AUSTRALIA IN WORLD CUP OPENER

Scotland Under 19s' World Cup campaign opened with a heavy nine-wicket defeat to tournament favourites Australia.

 

Sent into bat on a gloomy morning in Malaysia, Scotland's innings never really got going against an outstanding Australian attack, Emma Walsingham (12) and Charlotte Nevard (10) the only players to reach double figures as Scotland were bowled out for 48.

 

In reply, Kate Pelle got her side's pursuit of that target off to a flying start with three sixes in the opening over, and Australia never looked back from there, reaching their target inside seven overs.

 

 

It was always going to be a difficult task for Scotland against a side featuring multiple players with WBBL experience, and that showed in the early stages.

 

Eleanor Larosa removed Pippa Kelly (2) in the second over, and then Caoimhe Bray, fresh off a breakthrough season in the WBBL at just 15 years old, announced her arrival at the Under 19s World Cup by striking twice in two balls.

 

Bray, who played alongside Sarah Bryce at the Sydney Sixers, nipped one back in to bowl Sproul (3), before Niamh Muir dragged on her first ball, as Scotland slipped to 10-3.

 

Walsingham found the first boundary of the Scotland innings in the fifth over, crashing Amy Hunter across a heavy playing surface through the covers.

 

 

Walsingham and Nayma Sheikh added 19 for the fourth wicket before the former fell, caught at mid-off by Lucy Hamilton off the leg-spin of Tegan Williamson.

 

Sheikh then fell in the following over to Juliette Morton, caught at mid-wicket as she looked to take on the slog-sweep.

 

Nevard and Ammy Baldie looked to take on the sweep against the Australian spinners, and did so to some success; however, Baldie and Maisie Maceira fell in consecutive balls to Hasrat Gill, with Scotland reduced to 45-7.

 

The Scots' innings soon came to an end, as the last five wickets fell for just three runs - Larosa (3-7) dismissed Nevard and Kirsty McColl, before Bray bowled Mollie Parker to finish with superb figures of 3-1.

 

 

Pelle got her side's pursuit of that total off to the perfect start, striking three sixes in an opening over that went for 20, and had Australia well on their way to victory.

 

Ines McKeon, who has already played international cricket against Scotland for France, also got in on the act as she muscled away Maisie Maceira for a six of her own.

 

A brief shower forced the players from the field with Australia just 11 runs from victory, and upon the resumption Sheikh removed McKeon (12), turning one past her outside edge as Sproul completed the stumping.

 

It was left to Hamilton (3*) to strike the winning runs alongside Pelle (29*), as Australia reached their target in 6.4 overs, for the loss of one wicket.