2 days ago
Scotland notched up a historical maiden World Cup triumph connected Saturday, coming retired connected apical against Ireland by 40 runs. The Scotland captain, Kathryn Bryce, struck a powerful 60 from 39 balls and followed it up pinch a superb one-handed caught-and-bowled to spot disconnected Alana Dalzell successful nan first complete of Ireland’s chase.
It was an affectional juncture for nan 28-year-old Kirstie Gordon, who switched allegiance backmost to her autochthonal Scotland this twelvemonth aft playing a fistful of internationals for England successful 2018-19. Gordon had been successful tears earlier play arsenic Flower of Scotland rang retired astir nan ground, but she was each smiles 3 hours later aft returning figures of 3 for 16.
She came wrong a whisker of a World Cup hat-trick – turning 1 conscionable past nan bat of Orla Prendergast – but by past she had already drained nan past dream from Ireland’s tally pursuit pinch a three-wicket over, taking retired nan stumps of Rebecca Stokell and Alice Tector and holding connected to a crisp return drawback from Leah Paul.
Off-spinner Katherine Fraser chimed successful pinch 3 wickets including nan cardinal 1 of Gaby Lewis, stumped for 11, while Prendergast was tally retired for 33 arsenic Ireland were each retired for 121 successful 19.1 overs.
At nan Captains’ Carnival past weekend, Bryce and Lewis had talked up this lucifer arsenic a “massive rivalry”. A fewer years ago, certainly, these 2 teams would person been an moreover match: until 2024, Scotland had ne'er moreover featured successful a World Cup, while this is Ireland’s 5th outing.
But pinch Scottish players (including Bryce, Gordon and Fraser) now capable to compete successful England arsenic home professionals and Irish players locked retired of that action by kindness of Ireland being a afloat personnel of nan International Cricket Council (ICC), this title had a emotion of amateurs against professionals. Scotland ran harder, fielded amended and looked for illustration a well-drilled unit.
Scotland’s full of 162 for 5 was founded connected a 106-run business betwixt nan Bryce sisters, who played to their strengths: Kathryn powerful down nan ground, while Sarah trim beautifully, though nan brace besides hammered a six apiece complete wide long-on.
Despite a slow outfield, Scotland looked connected people for an moreover bigger total, but Ireland pulled things backmost astatine nan death. Arlene Kelly cramped Sarah Bryce for room and had her caught down 1 tally short of a half century. Then seamer Ava Canning amazed Ailsa Lister pinch a slower shot that rebounded disconnected her assemblage into nan stumps, and tempted Kathryn Bryce into a miscue up to cover.
After nan hectic mediate overs, nan last 4 were thing of an anticlimax: 3 wickets lost, 19 runs added and nary boundaries.
Ireland had won nan flip and chosen to vessel first, but conditions proved tricky for fielding. It was truthful windy that nan World Cup 2026 carpet had to beryllium nailed into nan outfield to extremity it blowing into nan Bridgewater canal, while nan ICC unfurled comically miniature versions of nan saltire and nan tricolour during nan anthems, to forestall nan flag-bearers being swept disconnected their feet.
Thus hoicks from Darcey Carter, Katherine Fraser, Kathryn Bryce and Lister swirled past nan hands of fielders successful nan deep. Carter and Fraser fell comparatively cheaply – Tector yet held connected to a drawback astatine heavy midwicket, while Carter was bowled aft failing to excavation retired Maguire’s yorker – but Bryce made Ireland salary for their errors.
