Scotland’s women sealed their place in the next stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualification process with a comprehensive victory over France at La Manga. Maintaining their 100% record in the European qualifying event, a five-wicket haul from Megan McColl helped the Scots to a seven-wicket victory and a tournament win.
Having won their previous three matches against the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany, the Scots were firm favourites to beat an inexperience French side. They won the toss and elected to bowl first and made their breakthrough in the tenth over as McColl, who had been rested against Germany on Sunday, took her first wicket of the tournament when Jennifer King was caught at short extra cover by Katie McGill.
McColl made short work of the French side who collapsed to 24 all out in 17.4 overs. The 20-year-old from Arbroath ended with figures of five wickets for three runs from 4 overs, including one maiden, a record for a Scottish woman in any form of international cricket.
With Scotland chasing 25 runs, the French put up an early fight as both Sarah and Kathryn Bryce fell to Marie Violleau in the space of three balls, closely followed by McGill. But Lorna Jack and McColl saw Scotland safely over the winning line on 25/3, with McColl picking up the Player of the Match.
Head Coach Mark Coles was delighted with his side: “We’ve won. It’s magnificent. We didn’t play quite as well as we could today, but credit to the girls, they’ve been fantastic this week. The best team won. I think we prepared really well and I hope that the nation of Scotland is very proud of these girls because they can feel extremely proud of their efforts.”
Scotland move forward to to the global qualifying tournament with the prize for victory there a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023.
