SCOTLAND SIGN OFF AT U19 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Scotland ended their ICC Women's U19 World Cup campaign with defeat to defending champions India in their final game of the Super Six stage.

 

Batting first, the tournament favourites made the highest total of the tournament so far, with Gongadi Trisha unbeaten on 110, the first century of the competition. The Scots battled hard early on in reply with some positive strokes, but India's spinners proved too good as they guided their team to a comfortable win.

 

On an overcast day in Kuala Lumpur, Niamh Muir won the toss and chose to field first on a pitch that saw some moisture earlier in the day, but India's openers looked unconcerned as they raced to 67 without loss at the end of the powerplay.

 

Trisha led the charge with some scintillating shots, reaching her half century in the ninth over, as the Scots bowling attack battled to find a consistent line and length. The openers set the highest opening stand of the tournament, which was broken on 147 as Muir held a sharp catch off Maisie Maceira to dismiss Kamalini.

 

Trisha had a narrow escape on 91 as she top edged a sweep off Maceira, but Pippa Sproul couldn't quite make the ground to take the catch. The runs continued to flow as Trisha reached a deserved century in the 18th over, comprising twelve boundaries and four sixes. India finished their innings on 208-1, with Trisha finishing 110 not out.

 

Pippa Kelly got the Scotland reply off to a flyer with three boundaries in the first over, but was then bowled by Aayushi for 12. Emma Walsingham continued the positive start, but then holed out to Vaishnavi at mid off. Muir fell in the same over, hammering a drive straight back to the bowler who took a sharp catch.

 

Sproul, Scotland's top run scorer in the tournament, looked in good form again with some classy strokes around the wicket, but became Vaishnavi's third wicket with a miscued drive to cover. Aayushi then dismissed Charlotte Nevard, Ammy Baldie and Gabriella Fontenla in one over with some classy slow left arm deliveries to leave the Scots 42-7.

Trisha backed up her good day with the bat with the final three wickets with the ball, as India wrapped up a comfortable victory. Despite the defeat, Scotland can return home with their heads held high after a hugely positive campaign against the world's best teams, in which they became the first U19 side to reach the second stage of a World Cup.