3 days ago
Key events
Preamble
Morning everyone and invited to a alternatively different World Cup. One successful which expanding nan tourney intends going from 10 nations to 12. One successful which we ne'er perceive a connection from a tinpot dictator. One successful which each lucifer charismatic makes it done nan airport.
Today originates pinch a mini portion of cricket history: nan first gathering betwixt Scotland and Ireland successful a women’s World Cup. As Raf Nicholson, our resident expert, said successful her tourney preview, it should beryllium a cracker.
By mid-afternoon, we’ll almost surely person different portion of history: nan first triumph for either of these sides successful a T20 World Cup. Ireland person made it to nan finals 4 times before, playing 17 games and losing nan lot. Scotland appeared for nan first clip successful 2024, playing 4 games and besides losing nan lot. In sport, arsenic Emma John observed successful a wise column astir nan Ben Stokes shemozzle, everyone’s a loser.
Gaby Lewis, Ireland’s captain, says there’s a “massive rivalry” betwixt nan 2 nations. History is connected Ireland’s side: successful 15 T20 meetings pinch Scotland, each successful nan past 8 years, they person won 9 and mislaid six. But shape is pinch Kathryn Bryce and Scotland, who won nan past 3 of those games, including the latest, a World Cup qualifier successful Nepal.
Both whitethorn beryllium eyeng much than conscionable a first victory. They’re successful nan gentler of nan 2 groups pinch only 1 large weapon – their communal foes, England. Second spot is expected to spell to New Zealand (who are 4th successful the world rankings), Sri Lanka (6th) aliases West Indies (7th), but Ireland (9th) and Scotland (11th) are entitled to dream of an upset. And some of them, erstwhile they look that lot, should person nan separator successful 1 important facet of nan game: reference nan weather.
The Manchester ambiance whitethorn person thing to opportunity coming pinch showers forecast astir nan start, though they’re improbable to forestall a result. All being well, I’ll beryllium backmost soon pinch news of nan flip and nan teams.
