OUTSTANDING EFFORT WITH THE BALL EARNS SCOTLAND VICTORY OVER PNG
Scotland Women made it four wins out of five on their tour of the Netherlands, as they opened their T20 action with a 16-run victory over Papua New Guinea.
Following a successful ODI Tri-Series, attention shifted to the shorter format, with the Women’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in just six weeks time, now firmly in sight.
After posting 117-7, Scotland blasted out PNG for 101, as an outstanding effort with ball and in the field, led by Chloe Abel (3-14), Darcey Carter (2-8) and Olivia Bell (2-22) secured another superb win.
After using the paddle-sweep to good effect early on, Megan McColl fell in the third over, bowled by Buruka Vicky as she looked to advance down the wicket.
Abbi Aitken-Drummond (12) would be the next to fall, Vicky Araa taking a superb return catch, and Scotland were in trouble when Maryam Faisal was run out, slipping to 22-3.
That brought Priyanaz Chatterji and Darcey Carter together, and the pair rebuilt the Scotland innings, not without some good fortune as numerous chances went down in the field.
The pair added 63 in just under eight overs, Carter finding the boundary with more regularity, striking four fours in her 30 before falling to Sibona Jimmy.
Jimmy would strike again to remove Chatterji for an excellent 32, and when Vicky had trapped Ellen Watson (2) in front, Scotland had fallen from 85-3 to 94-6.
Lorna Jack-Brown (18) and Chloe Abel (9*) would add some much need late impetus into the Scotland innings, lifting their side to 117-7, with the excellent Jimmy striking again in the final over to remove Jack-Brown for a brisk 11-ball 18.
Scotland’s defence got off to a dream start as Olivia Bell struck with the first delivery of the innings, trapping Naoani Vare in front.
Jimmy and Tanya Ruma added 20 for the second wicket, but Chatterji’s dismissal of Ruma (11) sparked a collapse of three wickets for eight runs.
Smart work from Chatterji saw Jimmy (6) run out, before Chloe Abel had Henao Thomas (4) caught at the wicket by Ellen Watson, as PNG slid to 28-4.
Brenda Tau was the one PNG batter who managed to take on the Scotland attack, whilst wickets continued to fall at the other end as Carter removed Kevau Frank, and Bell dismissed Araa.
Just three balls after Araa’s departure, Tau’s innings would come to an end on 39, caught by Aitken-Drummond off Carter, leaving PNG 79-7.
Pauke Siaka and Isabel Toua advanced their side’s total to 98, however the required rate was continuing to rise as Scotland strengthened their grip on the game.
And when Chloe Abel struck twice in two balls in the penultimate over to dismiss Toua and Vicky the victory was all-but secured, and was wrapped-up in the final over when Mahuta Jayphert was run out coming back for a second.