Ireland go to top of Group B of Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier; Thailand, UAE notch up maiden wins 

A phenomenal batting display helped Ireland beat Zimbabwe while Kathryn Bryce starred with bat and ball in Scotland’s win over USA at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024.

Ireland topped Group B after their massive win over Zimbabwe powered by a terrific opening stand from Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis. 

Meanwhile, Kathryn Bryce was at her best for Scotland as they overpowered USA in the Group A fixture to complete their second win of the tournament.

Thailand blanked Uganda later in the day with a brilliant bowling display. Opting to bowl first, they bowled out Uganda for 62 and chased down the target without breaking a sweat.

UAE registered their first win in the tournament to deny Netherlands. The bowlers led the charge for UAE early on before an aggressive reply in the run-chase saw them complete a massive win with ten wickets to spare.

Netherlands 101/9 (20) lost to UAE 104/0 (11.5)

Toss: Netherlands opt to bat first

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Netherlands decision to bat first against UAE at the Sheikh Zayed stadium backfired as Samaira Dharnidharka struck two crucial blows early in the innings.

The right-arm pacer sent back the dangerous Sterre Kalis, fresh off a Player of the Match performance last game, for a golden duck in the first over.

She went on to dismiss Babette de Leede in her next as Netherlands were jolted early.

Khushi Sharma came in as the first-change bowler and dismissed skipper heather Siegers as Netherlands slipped further in the Powerplay.

From 33/3, Robine Rijke rebuilt for Netherlands, but struggled to find partners at the other end with UAE striking regularly with the ball.

Vaishnave Mahesh’s leg-spin accounted for Iris Zwilling and Frederique Overdijk, but the significant blow came in the 15th over when Eva Lynch was run out and Rijke, who was playing the anchor role in the innings, fell for 44 to Kavisha Egodage. 

Caroline de Lange added a few runs at the end to help Netherlands past the triple figure mark. 

Esha Oza and Theertha Satish got UAE off to a flier in the run-chase. The duo put on 48 inside the first six overs to completely put Netherlands on the backfoot.

With eight boundaries, four apiece for both openers, in the powerplay, UAE had asserted their authority on proceedings and with a low target in front of them, were firm favourites to win the contest.

Esha Oza continued her charge after the Powerplay, racing to her half-century in 35 balls. The skipper was in a hurry to finish the game off and remained unbeaten on 66* off 39 balls  as UAE completed the win in just 11.5 overs.

Uganda 62 (17.4) lost to Thailand 64/1 (11.3)

Toss: Thailand opt to bowl first

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Put in to bat first, Uganda got off to a watchful start in the Powerplay before Chanida Sutthiruang’s double strike in the fifth over made a significant dent. 

With both the openers back in the hut, Uganda were required to rebuild and did so at sedate pace. The low run rate put pressure on the batters and Thipatcha Putthawong struck with the wicket of Stephani Nampiina. 

The runs just refused to come by for Uganda as Thailand kept making regular breakthroughs in between tight overs. 

The last four wickets fell in the space of one run as Uganda were bowled out for a paltry 62 with just three batters making double-digit scores.

Sutthiruang, Nattaya Boochatham and Putthawong shared two wickets apiece for Thailand.

In response, Boochatham and Natthakan Chantham got Thailand off to a solid start in the Powerplay.

Sarah Akiteng made the breakthrough in the first over after Powerplay, dismissing Boochatham for 15.

Chantham, though, was unstoppable and continued to find boundaries with ease as Thailand secured their first win of the tournament.

Ireland 176/3 (20) beat Zimbabwe 120/8 (20)

Toss: Zimbabwe opt to bowl first

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Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis sizzled with a 130-run opening partnership to help Ireland women post their fifth-highest total in women’s T20Is.

Hunter began the innings with a bang, slamming a hat-trick of fours off the first three balls from Josephine Nkomo, who came into the game fresh off a four-wicket haul. 

With Lewis joining hands, Ireland got off to a flyer, racing to 59/0 inside the Powerplay. Lewis was the first to make a half-century, reaching the landmark off 36 balls. Hunter joined her soon, taking 34 balls for her fifty.

It was Kelis Ndhlovu who finally put an end to the opening partnership when she had Lewis caught out for a brilliant 47-ball 69.

Nkomo sent back Hunter for 71 in the 17th over, but by then Ireland had already crossed the 150-run mark.

They finished on 176/3 in their 20 overs to set a formidable target for Zimbabwe. 

In response, Ava Canning struck twice in the Powerplay, sending back Sharne Mayers and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano cheaply to give Ireland an even stronger grip on the game.

Skipper Mary-Anne Musonda and Modester Mupachikwa combined to lift Zimbabwe out of trouble and at the end of 10 overs, the team moved to 65/2, still quite some distance away from the big target. 

Laura Delany broke the stand with the wicket of Mupachikwa, cleaning up the wicketkeeper for 27, but Musonda carried on for a bit more to finish on 48.

Zimbabwe, however, went on to lose their next four wickets in the space of 22 balls and eventually finished on 120/8. They have one win in three games and will need a big one in their final game to stand a chance of making it to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, with two wins in two games, Ireland are at the top of Group B and are favourites to make the semis now.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 Standings

Scotland 149/6 (20) beat USA 105/8 (20)

Toss: USA elected to field first
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Scotland’s skipper Kathryn Bryce led from the front to help them to a 44-run victory over the USA and make it to two wins in three matches.

Put into bat first, Scotland encountered early jitters as they lost their openers Saskia Horley and Megan McColl inside the Powerplay.

It was the fourth-wicket partnership between Bryce and Ailsa Lister that steadied the ship for the team. The duo added 66 runs in just 39 balls to swing the momentum back into Scotland’s favour.

Lister’s knock of 34 (22) came to an end when she decided to step down the track against Aditiba Chudasama only to be stumped by keeper Sindhu Sriharsha.

ICC Women’s Associate Player of the Decade, Bryce, held things under control from her end as she scored her ninth T20I fifty in 42 balls. 

Her unbeaten knock of 57* alongwith Lorna Jack’s cameo of 20 (17) took Scotland to 149/6 in their 20 overs.

In the bowling department too it was Bryce who made the headlines. Opening the bowling, she picked up a wicket on her first ball, dismissing Gargi Bhogle for nought.

She returned with her lethal inswingers in her second over and snared two more wickets – first rattling Disha Dhingra’s stumps and then trapping Sriharsha in the front. Both batters departed for ducks.

USA could only manage 26 runs for the loss of four wickets at the end of the Powerplay.

Leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood was brought into the attack to dismantle the middle-order. 

Maqsood dismissed Jessica Willathgamuwa (10) and Geetika Kodali (3) to reduce USA to 50/7.

Isani Vaghela and Jivana Aras combined to stop the flow of wickets and added 39 runs in 45 deliveries. Vaghela played a crucial hand of 30 off 26 balls before Chloe Abel dismissed her while Aras remained unbeaten on 24.

USA could only manage 105/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 44 runs as they recorded their second loss in a row in the Qualifier.

Along with an unbeaten fifty, Bryce finished with her career-best T20I figures of 4/17 to earn the Player of the Match award.