KATHERINE FRASER FIRES SCOTLAND TO PNG WIN
Katherine Fraser starred with bat and ball as Scotland opened their Emerging Nations Trophy campaign with a seven-wicket win over Papua New Guinea.
Fraser struck three times with the ball (3-10) as PNG were restricted to just 93 from their 20 overs, before adding a 29-ball 45 at the top of the order to set up Scotland's run chase.
Scotland were terrific with the ball and in the field, as Fraser was backed up by the excellent Kirstie Gordon (2-15), whilst Abtaha Maqsood, Kathryn Bryce and Priyanaz Chatterji also struck.
The spin trio of Gordon, Fraser and Maqsood had Scotland in control from the start, as they ripped through a PNG top order that slid to 29-4 in the eighth over.
PNG found the boundary just twice inside the powerplay, but were offered hope by a partnership of 44 from 52 deliveries between Tanya Ruma (22) and Pauke Siaka (24).
The pair had given their side optimism of posting a total in excess of 100 – but both then fell in quick succession. Ruma was bowled by Gordon, before Siaka fell to a stunning, full-length diving catch in the outfield from Pippa Sproul, to hand Fraser her second wicket.
That double strike thwarted any hopes PNG had of posting a competitive total, as they then subsided to 93 all out, Chatterji dismissing Henao Thomas with the final ball of the innings.
In response, Fraser and Darcey Carter broke the back of the chase with a rampant start, adding 38 in just four overs for the opening wicket before Carter was bowled by Thomas.
Fraser was the aggressor, hitting seven boundaries as she raced to 30 off just 15 balls, but she would fall just short of her second T20 international 50 on 45.
Contributions from Kathryn Bryce (14), Sarah Bryce (12*) and Pippa Sproul (11*) ensured Scotland reached their target in quick time, sealing the win from the first ball of the 14th over as Sproul guided Vicky Buruka’s delivery to the boundary.
Fraser said: "I think it was getting back into international cricket, being really clear on our comms, what was working on the pitches, and against the opposition, but I think we did a really good job.
"I think that's something we pride ourselves on as an opening pair, trying to be really aggressive in the powerplay, and then when Kathryn and Sarah came in it was just trying to make the most of that.
"We're a team that's always desperate to play as much international cricket as possible, so we really appreciate having this tournament."
Scotland will look to make it two wins from two against Sri Lanka on Friday morning from 0500 GMT.