SCOTLAND TAKE STEP CLOSER TO WORLD CUP WITH HUGE WIN OVER IRELAND
Scotland made it four consecutive wins, and took a significant stride towards World Cup qualification with a 39 run victory over Ireland.
Put into bat by their opponents, Scotland posted an imposing 160-5 - aided by a late flurry from Sarah Bryce (47) and Megan McColl (27*) that saw the Scots pile on 48 from the final four overs.
That partnership took the game away from Ireland, who were always behind the rate in reply after Kathryn Bryce struck twice in the opening three overs - and despite Gaby Lewis' 41, Ireland were all out for 121.
Scotland now likely require one further victory to secure their spot at June's World Cup - with fixtures against Bangladesh and the USA to come.
Reflecting on the win, Kathryn Bryce said: "It was a fantastic game all-round, there were so many people that put their hand up today. I think that partnership with Sarah (Bryce) and Megan (McColl) was absolutely phenomenal to get us up to that total.
"The way both Katherine Fraser and Abtaha Maqsood bowled through the middle to contain them and made it really tricky for them, putting the rate up, was just outstanding.
"This tournament's been really tough, there's so many fantastic teams that you never know what's going to happen, and anyone can beat anyone - so that's a big step forward for us, but there's a lot of cricket still to play."
After inserting Scotland in drizzly conditions, Ireland gifted Darcey Carter a life in the first over when she was put down by Aimee Maguire - but it didn’t prove too costly, as Carter holed out to Louise Little off the bowling of Alana Dalzell for 9.
Katherine Fraser was also given a reprieve early on when she was dropped by Lewis, and the in-form opener punished Ireland – striking Lara McBride for three consecutive boundaries in the final over of the powerplay.
Fraser, who opened the tournament with three consecutive 40s, made a 26-ball 36, adding 37 for the second wicket with Kathryn Bryce before falling to Jane Maguire.
Kathryn Bryce (30) and Ailsa Lister (5) both fell as Ireland struck back, but McColl and Sarah Bryce added late impetus to the Scotland innings.
The pair shared a partnership of 49 from just 26 deliveries, including 31 from the final two overs to take their side to 160-5 – McColl striking five boundaries in her 15-ball 27, whilst Sarah Bryce was eventually dismissed on the final ball of the innings for 47.
Ireland's response suffered a disastrous start as Kathryn Bryce removed Christina Coulter Reilly (0) in the opening over - and they suffered a further blow when Orla Prendergast (7) was Bryce's second victim.
Lewis and Leah Paul tried to drag their side back into the game, adding 47 for the third wicket - but Maqsood made the breakthrough, trapping Paul (18) LBW.
Kathryn Bryce returned to dismiss Rebecca Stokell (12), but it was Fraser who struck the decisive blow - bowling the Irish skipper Lewis for 41 - the game slipping away from Ireland at 85-5 in the 14th over.
They were ultimately bowled out for 121, as the Irish lower order struggled to keep up with the climbing rate - Kathryn Bryce finishing with an outstanding 4-21.