IMPRESSIVE SCOTS SECURE U19 SERIES SWEEP AGAINST NETHERLANDS

Scotland recorded another impressive win over Netherlands by 64 runs in the third ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Aberdeen to sweep the series 3-0.

 

Batting first, Scotland amassed 144-3, with Emma Walsingham anchoring the innings as she carried her bat with a superb unbeaten 73, supported by captain Niamh Muir (23). In reply, Netherlands were rocked by an opening blast from Ammie Balde (3-9) as they lost 4 wickets for 4 runs, finishing on 80-7 after 20 overs.

 

Walsingham was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for her contributions with the bat across the three matches.

 

The result completes an impressive set of results for Kari Carswell’s side, who will now begin preparation for January’s World Cup in Malaysia and Thailand.

 

Scotland made three changes as the players yet to feature in the series came into the side. Jenna Stanton replaced Molly Barbour-Smith in the middle order, while Lucy Forrester Smith and Rosie Speedy offered fresh bowling options, as Kirsty McColl and Pippa Kelly dropped out, with Pippa Sproul moving up to open with Emma Walsingham.

 

 

After being asked to bat first, the Scots raced to 34 after five overs, with Walsingham looking imperious, but the partnership was broken when Sproull smashed Wijffels straight to captain van Koolwijk for 8.

 

Scotland skipper Niamh Muir, promoted to no.3, initially struggled to get the bowling away, but leant into a stunning drive off her opposite number to find some momentum bring up the fifty inside nine overs. Walsingham was mixing control with power, dispatching anything short through the leg side with aplomb.

 

Having found her stride, Muir was dropped on 15 on the boundary by Leemhuis, as the partnership moved past 50, before Walsingham brought up her own terrific half century with two successive boundaries.

 

 

Muir was given another life by Schmidt as Scotland brought up the hundred in the sixteenth over, but then was pinned by Wijffels LBW for 23.

 

Nayma Shaikh added a quick fire 13 before edging Oost behind, before Stanton added a run a ball as Scotland finished on 144-3, a stern total for a Dutch side that had failed to pass 90 in the previous two matches.

 

Ammie Baldie struck twice early in the Dutch innings, as Shaikh snagged a good catch at midwicket to dismiss Wijffels, before van Koolwijk was bowled off her pads. Mollie Parker then joined the party as Lucy Forrester Smith caught Leemuis at point, before Balde caught and bowled Oost to leave the Dutch 19-4 after seven overs.

 

A change of bowling brought respite and runs for Netherlands, but they had fallen massively behind the run-rate with 110 required from the final ten overs. Lawrence and Schmidt took the score to 60 before Shaikh bowled Schmidt for 12.

 

Stanton grabbed two quick wickets with her spin as first Lawrence and then van der Werf were tempted out of their ground to be stumped, and the Dutch closed their innings on 80-7 to end a satisfying week for the Scots.