DEFEAT TO ENGLAND BRINGS SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP ADVENTURE TO A CLOSE
Scotland Women’s first-ever World Cup adventure ended with defeat to England, as the number two ranked side were victorious by 10 wickets.
Batting first, Scotland posted their highest total at the tournament, as Kathryn Bryce (33) and Sarah Bryce (28) guided their side to 109-6.
However, England’s openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge made light work of their target, both reaching half-centuries as they chased down their target in just 10 overs.
Speaking following the defeat, Ailsa Lister said: “We’re a bit disappointed as we’ve not played the cricket that we would have liked to, but ultimately we’re still super proud to be here, and that first day when we qualified was unbelievable.
“Hopefully this is just a glimpse of what’s to come, and we’ll be at many more world cups.
“We’ve just been learning as we go, we don’t get to play a huge amount of cricket, so it’s a privilege to play at a World Cup and play alongside world class players, and it’s been good to be able to chat with a couple of them and try and learn from them.”
Scotland were up and running in the opening over, Sarah Bryce carving Nat Sciver-Brunt away behind square on the offside for four.
Sarah Bryce and Saskia Horley added 38 for the opening wicket, their highest at this tournament, with the former striking Charlie Dean to the boundary twice.
Sciver-Brunt’s return to the attack brought about the downfall of Horley (13), the opener advancing down the track but skying a simple chance to Sophie Ecclestone at mid-off.
Sophie Ecclestone brought about Sarah Bryce’s downfall in the over after drinks, as quick work from Amy Jones had Bryce stumped for 27.
Ailsa Lister struck Scotland’s first six of the tournament as she swung Sarah Glenn away high over the leg-side, but her departure, caught by Heather Knight off the bowling of Dani Gibson, left her side 76-3.
Lorna Jack-Brown lasted just three balls, bowled by Lauren Bell without scoring.
Kathryn Bryce was beginning to find the boundary with regularity, cutting Bell away for four, before then shimmying down the wicket and thumping Dean back over her head for four.
However, Dean would strike back the following ball, bowling the Scotland skipper for an excellent 28-ball 33.
When Darcey Carter (4) fell, caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Maia Bouchier off the bowling of Ecclestone, Scotland were 94-6 with two overs remaining.
A late flourish from Megan McColl (10*) and Katherine Fraser (6*) took Scotland to 109-6, their highest total of the World Cup.
England’s pursuit started in style, Maia Bouchier striking her first three deliveries from Rachel Slater to the boundary.
Bouchier and Dani Wyatt-Hodge took on the Scotland attack, the latter striking Olivia Bell for three fours in an over, before Bouchier repeated the trick to Slater, taking England to 50 inside five overs.
Bouchier would reach her 50 from just 30 deliveries, sweeping Fraser over shirt fine-leg for four, with Wyatt-Hodge striking the winning runs as she went to her 50, sealing England’s third-straight win.