Captain Kathryn Bryce led from the front AS Scotland Women bounced back from yesterday’s defeat to the Netherlands in style as they eased to a seven-wicket victory over France.
It was an outstanding all-round display from Bryce, taking three wickets to help restrict France to 106-7, before striking a stylish half-century as her side comfortably chased down their target.
It’s a victory that sees Scotland remain in control in their pursuit of qualification, currently occupying the second qualifying spot behind the undefeated Dutch.
Reflecting on the victory, Lorna Jack said: “Today was a much better performance than yesterday, we had a chat about what we needed to do and we went out and did that.
“Our bowling and fielding were upped from yesterday, Megan McColl bowled really well as did Kathryn Bryce up front, and they were backed up well by everybody else.
“We want to hit hard and get after the powerplay which we did, and that set the perfect platform for us to go and on and chase down the target. We’ll be hoping for more of the same when we go up against Italy on Sunday.”
After electing to bat first, France started quietly as Nayma Sheikh opened with a maiden, before Kathryn Bryce found the breakthrough in her second over, bowling Pooja Ganesh for two.
Ines McKeown looked to take the attack to Scotland, displaying an array of powerful strokes as she accelerated her side’s scoring rate, clearing the boundary on a number of occasions.
McKeown and Marie Violleau had taken their side past 50 when Chloe Abel struck, removing the latter as Abtaha Maqsood clung on.
Kathryn Bryce then struck in the next over to move Wykes Templeman, who faced seven balls without scoring, and France had stuttered slightly to 56-3 after 11 overs.
McKeown continued to take the aggressive option with little support from her partners, reaching her half-century in 38 balls with a monstrous six swept off Maqsood over mid-wicket.
However, a crucial moment in the game came just three balls later as Maqsood extracted her revenge, McKeown miscuing a lofted drive to Darcey Carter at mid-off.
France failed to really get going again after that point, losing McGeown to Megan McColl in the next over, whilst Anika Bester was run out after some miscommunication with Amy Seddon.
Seddon, who had managed to find the boundary twice in her 17-ball 14, would fall in the final over, bowled by Bryce, who finished with an outstanding 3-8 as France finished on 106-7.
Scotland didn’t hang about in pursuit of their target, as Kathryn Bryce and Maryam Faisal took three boundaries from the bowling of Dorothea Graham in the second over.
France would strike back through Amy Seddon, having Faisal caught at the wicket by Tara Britton with her first ball.
That was as good as it got for Seddon as her next five balls cost 21 runs, bowling three no balls whilst Bryce struck four boundaries, including three consecutive fours that took her to 29 and her side to 40 at the end of the third over.
Scotland had broken the back of the chase with that early onslaught, and Bryce and Priyanaz Chatterji continued to accumulate runs, the former reaching her 50 in the seventh over from just 30 balls.
After reaching the milestone Bryce would perish, getting underneath a drive off Anika Bester as Seddon ran around to complete a steepling catch.
That brought Sarah Bryce to the crease, and she picked up where her sister left off, finding the boundary with regularity as Scotland closed in on their target.
Chatterji wouldn’t be there to see her side across the line, bowled by Bester for 13, but Lorna Jack and Bryce (26*) would secure the victory inside 13 overs.
