SCOTS START WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN IN STYLE AGAINST IRELAND

Scotland produced an outstanding all-round performance to beat Ireland by 40 runs and record their first ever win at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Old Trafford.

 

After Ireland won the toss and asked Scotland to bat, the Bryce sisters led from the front as Scotland made 161-5 in their twenty overs, Kathryn top-scoring with 60 and Sarah making 49 in a partnership of 106, Scotland's highest in T20 World Cup history.

 

In reply, Kirstie Gordon's devastating three-wicket burst in the thirteenth over ripped the heart out of the Irish batting order. Gordon finished with outstanding figures of 3-16, ably supported by Katherine Fraser (3-19) as Scotland recorded their fourth successive win against Ireland to open their World Cup campaign in dream fashion.

 

It sets the Scots up well for the rest of the tournament, with their next match against West Indies at Headingley on Thursday evening.

 

On an overcast, breezy Manchester morning, a damp outfield meant sharp running between the wickets was going to be a priority and openers Carter and Fraser were able to milk several twos to fielders in the deep. 

 

 

Fraser survived a stumping appeal off Arlene Kelly in the fourth over, but then holed out in the deep to Ava Canning three balls later for 15, bringing skipper Bryce to the crease. Whilst she immediately looked at ease, Carter fell in the sixth over, yorked by Aimee Maguire for 14, and Ireland were on top at the end of the powerplay with Scotland 37-2.

 

Sarah Bryce joined her sister at the crease and took time to settle, while Kathryn did her best to see off the dangerous Orla Prendergast, who targeted the Scotland pair with a succession of bouncers. Gradually the momentum of the innings that had been with Ireland began to swing towards the Scots, who reached 71-2 at the midway point.

 

In the eleventh over Sarah upped the pace with a spectacular over that reaped 20 runs from Cara Murray, featured two gorgeous cover drives for four and a powerful swipe for six over deep midwicket. Kathryn followed suit, bringing up the hundred for Scotland with a pull through square leg, as the pair moved through the gears to devastating effect.

 

 

With six overs left Scotland were well positioned at 122-2. Kathryn brought up her fifty from 32 balls after a heave for six over long on and then a fortuitous nick for four through the slips. Sarah brought up the hundred partnership and was poised to make her own half century, but fell one short as she edged Kelly behind at the start of the seventeenth over.

 

Scotland were eyeing a total in excess of 170 as Ailsa Lister joined her captain, and she took the score past 150, before being bowled by Canning for six. Kathryn Bryce then fell for 60 as Canning bowled a tight nineteenth over, and it was left to Priyanaz Chatterji and Megan McColl to haul Scotland over 160.

 

Ireland needed to start fast, but captain Bryce made a brilliant early breakthrough with an outrageous catch off her own bowling to dismiss Alana Dalzell for six. Rachel Slater's opening two overs went for three runs, as Scotland piled the pressure on their opponents in the powerplay, with Ireland 31-1 after six overs.

 

 

Katherine Fraser then struck a massive blow, dismissing Gaby Lewis for 11, as Ireland's captain danced down the pitch but missed a slightly wider delivery to be stumped by Sarah Bryce. The required run rate had climbed to more than ten per over, but Amy Hunter began to find her rhythm with two boundaries from Chloe Abel to take the score to 58-2 at halfway.

 

It felt like make or break time for Ireland, and Fraser broke the partnership as she bowled Hunter attempting the reverse sweep for 39. Then Gordon came to the party, firstly with an armball to deceive Rebecca Stokell, followed by a wonderful diving catch to remove Leah Paul, and then next ball bowling Alice Tector as Ireland tumbled to 70-6 after thirteen overs.

 

 

Prendergast was Ireland's final hope, and narrowly survived Gordon's hat-trick ball. Ireland took eleven runs from the sixteenth over by Chatterji, and Prendergast whacked Slater for six over deep square leg, but then was run out after a fabulous throw from distance by Carter back to the wicketkeeper that left her a yard short.

 

 

Fraser and Bryce mopped up the tail to kickstart the celebrations in front of hundreds of family and supporters who had travelled south, and ensure Scotland began their World Cup in style.