SCOTLAND MAKE WINNING START TO EMERGING NATIONS TROPHY

Scotland Women began their Emerging Nations Trophy campaign with a narrow 15-run victory over Uganda in a low-scoring affair.

 

Batting first, Darcey Carter carried her bat for 54, whilst Megan McColl struck a combative 32 - with Ellen Watson (11) the only other Scot to reach double figures, as a late innings collapse saw Scotland restricted to 115-9.

 

In reply, Uganda were well set at the halfway mark at 58-1, but Scotland's bowlers fought back well to restrict their opponents to 100-6, with Abtaha Maqsood (2-20) and Priyanaz Chatterji (2-26) superb in the second-half of the reply.

 

 

Darcey Carter, named Player of the Match, said: "It was obviously a bit difficult there at the end of our batting innings, and not ideal, but we were able to get a score on the board which is what matters.

 

"I feel like we've got a bowling attack that can defend low totals, we would have liked to have got a bigger score, but we back our bowling ability to defend something like that.

 

"It's been good to get some runs, and hopefully I can carry that on for the rest of the tournament."

 

 

It was the 50-run partnership between Carter and McColl that ultimately proved the difference for Scotland - the pair coming together after Ailsa Lister (0), Watson (11) and Sarah Bryce (6) all fell cheaply.

 

McColl was the chief aggressor, striking six boundaries in her 22-ball 32, as the pair's 50-run stand came from just 32 deliveries.

 

That partnership had Scotland well-positioned at 103-3 entering the final five overs, but the dismissal of McColl sparked a dramatic collapse. Janet Mbazazi bowled a double-wicket maiden to begin a run of six wickets for just six runs in 18 deliveries, with the Scots eventually finishing on 115-9.

 

 

At that stage, Uganda had all the momentum, and they carried that through to their batting innings - despite Mollie Parker striking with her second ball in international cricket - as they reached the halfway stage in command at 58-1.

 

But Scotland's bowlers never let Uganda get ahead of the game, and wrested back the initiative as Maqsood removed both set batters, Immaculate Nakisuuyi (36) and Esther Iloku (20), in consecutive overs.

 

The required rate began to escalate quickly, to the point that Uganda required 24 from the final two overs - with Chatterji closing the game out superbly at the death.

 

Scotland's next game is against Tanzania on Friday, and can be watched live and free on icc.tv.