Scotland Triumph Over Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup Warm up Match

Scotland Women began their preparations for their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in a warm-up match at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai. The Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah, led Scotland’s charge, combining with both bat and ball to secure a crucial win.

Bryce Sisters Shine

Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce was instrumental with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 22 runs in her three-over spell. Her medium-paced deliveries troubled Pakistan’s batters, particularly in the latter stages of the innings. Kathryn’s brilliant bowling performance was capped by back-to-back wickets to close out Pakistan’s innings at 134/9 in 20 overs.

Pakistan’s top order struggled to build momentum early in the innings, losing key batter Nida Dar for just four runs, thanks to a sharp delivery from Olivia Bell. Muneeba Ali (27) and Omaima Sohail (30) provided some resistance, steadying the ship briefly, but a lack of acceleration in the middle overs stunted Pakistan’s progress. Captain Fatima Sana’s quickfire 20 off 14 balls added valuable runs towards the end but was not enough to set a competitive total.

Scotland's Assured Chase

In reply, Scotland’s top order dominated the chase. Opener Saskia Horley led the charge with a composed 48 runs, falling just short of her half-century in the 12th over. Her steady start allowed Scotland to control the pace of the chase, with the team always looking comfortable.

Sarah Bryce, however, was the star with the bat, compiling a match-winning knock of 60 not out. The talented wicketkeeper-batter remained calm and composed as she guided her team to victory. Captain Kathryn Bryce joined her sister in the middle, providing support with a brief cameo as Scotland reached their target with two overs to spare, finishing on 133/2.

Scores in Brief:

Pakistan: 132/9 in 20 overs (Omaima Sohail 30, Muneeba Ali 27; Kathryn Bryce 3/22, Olivia Bell 2/16)
Scotland: 133/2 in 20 overs (Sarah Bryce 60 not out, Saskia Horley 48; Nashra Sandhu 1/18)
Result: Scotland win by eight wickets

Looking Ahead

This commanding performance will give Scotland a significant boost of confidence as they prepare for their first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign. With the Bryce sisters leading from the front, Scotland will hope to build on this momentum as they aim to make their mark on the global stage.