England Crush Scotland to Take Top Spot in Group B in Women’s T20 World Cup
England defeated Scotland by 10 wickets in Sharjah, taking the lead in Group B in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Thanks to half-centuries from Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, England made a statement by winning in just 10 overs while chasing a modest total of 110.
Key Performances and Match Results
England 113 for 0 (Bouchier 62*, Wyatt-Hodge 51*) beat Scotland 109 for 6 (Kathryn Bryce 33, Ecclestone 2-13) by 10 wickets.
Match Analysis
With one match remaining, England leads Group B of the women’s T20 World Cup after crushing Scotland by ten wickets in Sharjah. In net run-rate, they overcame South Africa, who are also on six points but have played one more game, after chasing down a modest target of 110 with ten overs remaining.
The way the win was decided, with a boundary from Maia Bouchier—whose undefeated 62 is now the best individual score in the tournament—also allowed England to surpass the West Indies in terms of net run rate. They play each other on Tuesday in a knockout match, though theoretically both teams may advance together at South Africa’s expense.
In the opening stand with Bouchier, Danni Wyatt-Hodge also scored a half-century, 51* off 26, which is now the greatest score of this World Cup. With 76 runs coming in fours, it was a boundary-heavy match that ended Scotland’s first-ever women’s World Cup campaign in defeat for the fourth time in succession.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Scotland ended with their highest-ever total. The mainstay of the innings was given by captain Kathryn Bryce’s 33 off 28 (the only Scottish batsman to score at more than a run per ball), who came at the start of the ninth over and batted through to the conclusion of the 17th over.
The only other notable score was that of her sister Sarah Bryce, who opened with 27 from 31, but Alisa Lister achieved the distinction of hitting Scotland’s first six at a major competition when she slog-swept Sarah Glenn in the 13th over.
Though they did not claim a wicket in the powerplay for the first time in six games, thanks to Sarah and Saskia Horley’s 29-run opening six overs, England managed to contain their opponents throughout. As usual, Sophie Ecclestone was the best bowler, finishing with two wickets for thirteen in her four overs.
With England eager to take advantage of a field that is now favorable for seaming, Lauren Bell, who was playing in her debut event, concluded with a score of 1 for 16. She was one of two replacements for Alice Capsey in Heather Knight’s charges, along with Sophia Dunkley. Due to Capsey’s illness over the week, the management decided against taking any chances, particularly given the heat of England’s competition day game.
Lorna Jack-Brown concluded her international career with a three-ball duck after being bowled by Bell. She ends up with the most caps of any player in Scottish history.
When Bangladesh were checking out to return home, England knew that their day was different from everyone else’s when they left their hotel for this match. While some other teams had finished their group stage schedule, the 2009 winners had only played two games thus far.
This included South Africa, who led Group B on Sunday morning. West Indies, who had played one more game than South Africa but were still in second place with a higher NRR (by 1.055), were even on four points with England.
It was easy to calculate at half-time, with everything in front of England. Achieve the required 110 in 11.5 overs or less to dethrone South Africa as the number one team, and in 9.3 overs or less to surpass the West Indies’ NRR. England achieved both side goals with the required win at the end of the tenth over thanks to Bouchier’s stride over and heave over the leg side for four, however they were unable to accomplish the latter.
Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge were severe; Scotland’s lines were particularly erroneous. With just 54 deliveries, they achieved England’s first century opening stand in T20 World Cups since 2012. They also achieved the greatest powerplay of 66 for 0 and the fastest team fifty of this round in just 4.4 overs.
Left-armer Rachel Slater gave Bouchier three fours from the opening three balls of the chase, setting her up for a third career half-century from just thirty deliveries. In T20Is, Wyatt-Hodge’s 17th 50+ score was six balls faster. The ten clinical fours that the duo hit in a 16-ball span from the beginning of the fourth over best reflected their understanding of the assignment.
The victor of Tuesday’s match between England and the West Indies will undoubtedly go to the World Cup final four. Under two extreme circumstances, however, the losers might still survive.
Even if West Indies score 201 runs or more and triumph, England could still qualify if the difference between the two teams’ scores is only one run. Similarly, if they can match a West Indies score of 194 or more in the regular 20 overs, they can lose in a Super Over and still advance.
With the way the Sharjah pitch has been playing, both seem incredibly unlikely. However, South African cricket fans are well aware that heartbreak during the World Cup may come in many strange forms.
Scotland’s three crushing losses at the end of their maiden World Cup was depressing. Calm ones, considering the West Indies, South Africa, and England were aware that they needed to equalize each other’s supremacy when facing the newcomers to international tournaments.
The last seven days have shown just how far Scotland has to go to catch up with the best in women’s cricket, despite a promising start against Bangladesh. However, the entire competition has been a crucial learning experience for a team trying to make a name for itself at this level.
In addition to Kathryn and Sarah Bryce, who finished as the team’s top run scorers, there were moments of promise. Olivia Bell would have continued her habit of capturing a wicket in every game if she had managed to hold on to a return catch from Bouchier when the batter only had 17. Given that Sharjah’s temperatures are consistently in the mid-to late-30s, it presented a special challenge since three of their four matches were day games—this being England’s first.
As professional contracts were first established in 2023, this can be considered another significant step in the right direction for Scottish women’s cricket, given that they were granted ODI status in 2022.
