Kathryn Bryce guides Scotland to maiden Women's T20 World Cup win, beating Ireland by 40 runs

Scotland registered a historic maiden victory at the Women's T20 World Cup, beating Ireland by 40 runs in the second match of the tournament on Saturday, June 13, at Old Trafford, Manchester. After being asked to bat first by Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, Scotland posted a good score of 161/5 in their allotted 20 overs, with captain Kathryn Bryce leading the way with a brilliant half-century.

Sarah Bryce also made a valuable contribution of 49 (35) after the openers departed cheaply. For Ireland, Ava Canning (3/27) chipped in with three wickets, while Arlene Kelly (1/24) and Aimee Maguire (1/36) also scalped one wicket each.

In reply, Ireland were bundled out for 121 in 19.1 overs as Katherine Fraser (3/19) and Kirstie Gordon scalped three wickets each. Only Amy Hunter (39 off 36) and Orla Prendergast (33 off 23) put up some fight, but it wasn’t enough to help their team cross the line. As a result, Ireland registered a comfortable win to earn crucial two points in the Group B points table.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce was adjudged Player of the Match for her stunning performance with both bat and ball. She first scored a brilliant 60 (39) to rescue her team after both openers departed with just 37 runs on the board. Kathryn got involved in a massive 106-run stand off just 64 balls for the third wicket alongside her sister, Sarah Bryce. Later with the ball, Kathryn also snaffled two wickets, registering figures of 2/19 in 3.1 overs.  

Turning Point

There were two turning points in the match, the first was during the first innings, when Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce rescued their team after the early collapse with their century stand. Later in the second innings, Kirstie Gordon triggered a collapse in Ireland’s middle order, taking three wickets in the 13th over. She accounted for Rebecca Stokell (2 off 3), Leah Paul (0 off 2) and Alice Tector (0 off 1) as Ireland went from 67/2 to 70/6 within a space of nine deliveries.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Kathryn Bryce (Scotland women):  

(Talk to me about the turnaround for your team.) Probably the temperature helped a little bit as well. It was like 45 degrees when we played that first game. So it was nice to be a bit more of our usual conditions out here. But I think we've had a lot of confidence coming into the last couple of weeks. And we've had a really good series up in Scotland and a good couple of warm-up games. So I think there was a lot more of a relaxed feeling coming into this game. (We've got to go back to that 100-run stand. It really sets you up to get that kind of total.) Yeah, I think it was a good total at halfway. I think from where we were, we probably felt we left a few runs out there in the last few overs. But I think the bowlers came out fantastically and set the tone, and I think our fielding was outstanding. (You've almost got to start from ground zero with every game because every game is so crucial in this tournament?) Yeah, I think we've got a lot of challenging games coming up, but I think that that's what you said, it's just take each game as it comes and reset. And I think if we play well and put in good performances, then we'll be in with a chance in each game.

Losing Captain, Gaby Lewis (Ireland women):

(Where did it go wrong with the bowling effort, do you think?) I think it was probably that middle period. I think we had a good start, as you said. And yeah, I think that middle period just slipped away. Scotland ran really well, played really well. And yeah, hats off to them. (Where did the chase falter?) It's hard to pinpoint down, I think, at the period, I think at the mid-innings, I think we had a great finish with the ball. I think they were 19 for 2 in the last four overs, which is brilliant. So the momentum was with us early on. Maybe, I guess powerplay, if we had a better powerplay, it's hard to put a finger on which phase of the game. But I guess, look, go back to the drawing board and hopefully improve next game. (What is your message to the team as you head back into the dressing room?) I think it's a long tournament. Like, we still have four more games. There's still teams that we feel that we can really put a fight against and hopefully beat. So I think, just to stick, regroup, stick together. And yeah, that's all I can say.