IRELAND WIN THRILLER TO END SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP HOPES

Scotland Women lost a last-ball thriller, as Ireland ended their World Cup qualifying campaign with a nailbiting one wicket win.

 

Set 268 to win, fifties from Gaby Lewis, Sarah Forbes and Laura Delany ensured Ireland would squeeze across the line, Scotland repeatedly fighting back before Delany scrambled a leg-bye off the final delivery to seal the win.

 

Earlier, it had been all about Kathryn Bryce, who struck a scintillating, unbeaten 131, the highest score by a Scottish woman representing their country, as Scotland posted their highest ODI score, 268-7.

 

But it wasn't to be enough, as their hopes of qualifying for this year's Cricket World Cup came to an end.

 

Kathryn Bryce said: "It's always really tough to come out on the wrong side of that sort of game, but at the same time those are the games you want to be involved in as a player, and it was special to be a part of that.

 

"I'm really proud of the way I played, I'd got a couple of 50s in this tournament without kicking on, so it was really pleasing this time to be able to bat through and really help the team."

 

 

Batting first in a must-win game, Scotland suffered a tricky start, sliding to 19-3 as Pippa Sproul, Maryam Faisal and Sarah Bryce all fell cheaply in the powerplay.

 

Kathryn Bryce and Ailsa Lister batted positively in their attempt to rebuild the innings – Lister getting off the mark with a huge six from the bowling of Sophie MacMahon.

 

The pair added 62 for the fourth wicket, before Lister edged Cara Murray behind to Amy Hunter to depart for 27 – and when Megan McColl fell for 15, Scotland were 100-5.

 

Kathryn Bryce, who had been in since the conclusion of the second over, would reach her 50 from 72 deliveries – a vital innings as Scotland’s top order stuttered.

 

Alongside Katherine Fraser, Bryce would take Scotland to 168, the former dismissed for 33 by a Murray delivery that skidded on.

 

Priyanaz Chatterji (26) made another important contribution with the bat, but it was Kathryn Bryce who was the star of the show, reaching her first-ever ODI 100 from 122 deliveries – and just the second Scot to reach that mark, after Saskia Horley.

 

 

She went up a gear after reaching that landmark, adding a further 31 from her next 15 deliveries to finish unbeaten on 131*, the highest score by anyone representing Scotland Women, as she led her side to an ODI-best of 268-7.

 

Ireland’s pursuit of that target got off to a perfect start, led by captain Lewis, who, alongside Sarah Forbes, added an unbroken 109 for the first wicket.

 

The pair looked untroubled, both reaching passing 50, but disaster-struck when Forbes (55) was stranded halfway down the wicket, Sarah Bryce and Abtaha Maqsood combining to complete the run out.

 

Hunter lasted just one ball, caught by Sarah Bryce off the bowling of Katherine Fraser, and when Lewis fell to Chloe Abel, Ireland were 139-3.

 

 

Orla Prendergast and Delany seemed to have wrestled back control for Ireland, adding 41 before Kathryn Bryce made the breakthrough as Prendergast (33) chipped to Lister at mid-wicket.

 

Scotland continued to fightback, Fraser trapping Leah Paul (11) in front, before she then took a smart catch off the bowling of Abel to remove Louise Little (1), as Ireland slid from 180-3 to 200-6.

 

MacMahon fell cheaply to Kathryn Bryce, but Delany and Jane Maguire added 53 for the eighth wicket, to put their side in firm control.

 

Ireland required seven from seven deliveries when Rachel Slater broke that partnership, Maguire holing out to Lister at deep mid-wicket.

 

Ava Canning would strike a boundary from her first delivery, but was bowled by Kathryn Bryce from her second, to leave two runs required from the final two balls.

 

In the end, Ireland were able to scramble two singles to get over the line, and end their qualifying campaign on a high.