SASKIA HORLEY FIRES SCOTLAND TO OPENING ODI WIN
An inspired performance with bat and ball from Saskia Horley inspired Scotland to a 62 run win over Papua New Guinea, to open their ODI tri-series in style.
A maiden ODI century from Horley, supported by an unbeaten 74 from Katherine Fraser, helped Scotland post 258-6, which proved out of reach for PNG, bowled out for 196 as Horley and Abtaha Maqsood picked up four wickets apiece.
Horley and Aitken-Drummond (16) started positively as they added 28 brisk runs for the opening wicket, before the latter fell, bowled by a searing yorker from Geau Tom.
Darcey Carter (16) added 38 for the second wicket with Horley before she departed, quickly followed Priyanaz Chatterji who made just 1, to leave Scotland 69-3.
Megan McColl and Horley then set about rebuilding the innings, adding 53 as McColl looked to be inventive as she maneuvered the ball around the field.
McColl would fall, LBW to Isabel Toua for 24, and when Lorna Jack was run out for just one, Scotland had slipped to 123-5.
Enter Katherine Fraser, who batted patiently alongside Horley as the duo stabilised their side's innings, Fraser providing much-needed support to the Scotland opener.
Horley would reach a magnificent 100 as she pushed a single down the ground, her first for Scotland, and the first by a Scotland batter in a Women's ODI.
She would depart immediately after reaching that landmark, caught by Henao Thomas off the bowling of Buruka Vicky for an excellent 100 from 121 deliveries.
Her departure saw Fraser move onto the attack, striking eight fours and one six as she struck 74 from just 75 balls, lifting Scotland up to an imposing total of 258-6.
PNG's reply got off to the perfect start for the chasing side, as Naoani Vare and Brenda Tau set about their task, laying a superb platform as they put on 65 for the opening wicket.
Fraser made the important breakthrough, bowling Tau for 25, but PNG continued their impressive start as Vare and Tanya Ruma took their side past 100.
However, four quick wickets saw PNG slide from 101-1 to 123-5, Abtaha Maqsood and Saskia Horley both picking up two wickets as, alongside Fraser, Scotland's spin trio stifled their opponents.
Pauke Siaka and Vicky Araa added some resistance as they steadily added 55 for the sixth wicket to take their side to 188, before Maqsood made the breakthrough as she had Araa (21) stumped by Ellen Watson.
The end would come quickly as Maqsood (4-37) and Horley (4-24) ran through the lower order, before debutant Gabriella Fontenla wrapped-up the victory with her first-ever senior international wicket, trapping Toua LBW to dismiss PNG for 196.