SCOTLAND WOMEN OPEN WITH WARM-UP WIN OVER PAKISTAN
A clinical all-round performance saw Scotland defeat Pakistan by eight wickets in the first 'official' warm-up fixture ahead of the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
Scotland were outstanding with the ball from the start, taking three wickets in the powerplay before restricting their opponents to 132-9, Kathryn Bryce finishing as the pick of the bowlers with 3-20.
In reply, Saskia Horley (48) and Sarah Bryce (60*) laid a decisive platform with a 73-run opening stand, with Sarah Bryce there at the end alongside Megan McColl as Scotland reached their target in 18 overs.
Abtaha Maqsood, who took 2-21 including a spectacular return catch, said: "It's amazing to get over the line there, it's a a really good team performance and gives us so much confidence going into the World Cup, knowing that we've beaten the West Indies and now Pakistan.
"The spinners did really well, there were quite a few match-ups that we talked about earlier on in our meetings, and I was personally happy with my performance as part of that group, and I'm so pleased for the girls.
"It (the return catch to dismiss Aliya Riaz) was definitely instinctive, I just threw myself at it and it seemed to stick, and it came it an important time as well which was nice.
"I'm a terrible, terrible watcher so it was so good to then just sit there and actually be quite chilled out, watching Saskia and Sarah, and then Kathryn, go about their work like that."
After electing to bat first, Pakistan got off to a tricky start as they lost Sadaf Sharmas in the second over, the opener skying a Kathryn Bryce delivery to Priyanaz Chatterji in the ring, who took a steepling catch.
Olivia Bell would strike in her opening over to reduce Pakistan to 20-2, Sidra Amin caught at short-fine leg by Hannah Rainey.
And Bell was causing more problems for Pakistan in her following over, removing Nida Dar as Darcey Carter took a smart catch running in on the mid-wicket boundary.
Scotland’s stunning start got even better when Maqsood trapped Gull Feroza (16) in front, as Pakistan slipped to 35-4 inside seven overs.
Muneeba Ali Siddiqi then looked to counter-attack, the Pakistan wicket-keeper taking Hannah Rainey for back-to-back boundaries, first pulling through the leg-side, before then advancing down the track and striking sweetly over mid-on.
Siddiqi and Omaima Sahil added 33 for the fifth wicket, before Katherine Fraser made the breakthrough to remove the dangerous Siddiqi for 22-ball 27, as she spooned a simple catch to Bell at cover.
Maqsood would strike again to reduce Pakistan to 88-6, taking a spectacular one-handed return catch, diving low down to her left, to remove Riaz (10).
Sohail, alongside her skipper Fatima Sana Khan, looked top play positively, but Rachel Slater would halt their progress, as Sohail (30) struck a low full toss straight to Megan McColl at cover.
Kathryn Bryce struck with the final two deliveries of the innings, Iram Javed and Tuba Hassan both holing out to Saskia Horley at long-on, Javed the victim of an excellent diving grab, low down to Horley's right.
After her involvement to halt Pakistan’s progress at the end of their innings, Horley got her side’s underway in style, hammering Tasmia Rubab away for four twice in the opening over.
The pair would bring up their half-century opening stand in the ninth over, Horley striking another pair of consecutive boundaries as Scotland reach 65-0 at the halfway stage.
Pakistan would finally make the breakthrough in the 12th over, Horley departing for a superb 48 as she was well caught on the leg-side boundary by Diana Baig off Nashra Sundhu.
With the asking rate touching eight entering the final six overs, Sarah Bryce looked to target Syeda Aroob Shah’s over, hoisting a huge six over the mid-wicket boundary, as 16 were taken from the over.
She continued on the attack in the following over, reaching her 50 from 45 deliveries as she swung Sadia Iqbal away over the leg-side boundary; Sarah Bryce had gone from 25 from 35, to 53 from 45, striking 28 in 10 deliveries to put her side within touching distance of victory.
Kathryn Bryce would join in the fun as she drove Khan superbly through the covers for four, but fell with Scotland just one away from victory, run out hurrying through for a quick single.
It would be left to Megan McColl to hit the winning run, alongside Sarah Bryce, unbeaten on 60, as Scotland continued their first-ever World Cup preparations in impressive style.