Scotland put up a good fight, but in the end they lost to UAE by six wickets in their first Group D match at the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa on Saturday.
The match took place at the Willowmoore Park B Field in Benoni, and UAE won the toss and decided to have a field.
Scotland were well supported within the ground while lots of supporters back home were watching the live stream and cheering them on.
Batting first, Peter Ross’ side made 99-9 with Stewart’s Melville’s Emma Walsingham top scoring with 37.
In the second half, Masie Maceira took two wickets in an over, but 33 not out from Mahika Gaur got UAE over the line to 100-4 after 16.2 overs.
After the match, Scotland captain Katherine Fraser said: “I think we just didn’t quite have enough runs on the board and in the end we weren’t able to defend 99, but we will come back stronger in the next game.
“We showed a lot of fight in the second half of the match with the ball and in the field, so there are positives there that we can take forward for sure.
“With our batting we have to assess the risks a bit better and that’ll help us move forward and make better totals.
“As a team this is a learning experience and as a captain it is too, things like just getting the fields right, working out the game situation and staying on top of the game are all things I’m learning about. I’m enjoying the challenge.
“We have got a really good group here, we stick together through the tough times, so we will do that and look to come back stronger against South Africa and then India.”
With the bat first up, Scotland lost vice-captain Ailsa Lister in the first over for one when she was bowled by Indhuja Nandakumar.
In the third over, Darcey Carter fell to the same bowler – caught by Samaira Dharnidharka – for six and Scotland were 9-2.
Walsingham and Nayma Sheikh then put on 20 for the third wicked before the latter was run out for one.
The skipper Fraser joined her club team mate Walsingham at the crease and they batted sensibly, both hitting some good shots too, to take their side up to 62.
Fraser fell in the 11th over for a useful 17 from 22 balls when she was caught Rinitha Rajith off the bowling of Dharnidharka.
Walsingham, well set on 37 off 33 balls included five 4s and a 6, then followed her captain back to the pavilion just five runs later – caught by Gaur off Vaishnave Mahesh – to leave the Scots 67-5.
In the end, 32 more runs were added before Niamh Muir was run out for 12 off the last ball of the innings. Niamh Robertson-Jack, 10th in the batting order, chipped in with a useful nine not out.
Nandakumar, Mahesh and Dharnidharka all took two wickets for UAE.
In the reply, UAE made a steady start before Fraser held one back to Lavanya Keny and the batter missed it and was stumped by wicketkeeper Lister in the seventh over for seven.
That left UAE 32-1 and seemed to lift the Scottish spirits and they were lifted even higher in the ninth over when Maceira bowled UAE captain Theertha Satish for 27 off 24 balls.
The wicket came from Maceira’s first legitimate ball and, at the end of the dame over, she managed to bowl Rajith for a duck to leave the opposition 46-3.
Dharnidharka, later named player of the match, and Gaur knew they had to steady things and they did just that.
They put on 43 runs for the fourth wicket and by the time Dharnidharka was out for 23 from 27 balls – caught by Olivia Bell off the bowling of Nayma Sheikh at the end of the 15th over – they needed just 11 runs to win.
Gaur, whose unbeaten knock came off 25 balls, saw them home with 22 balls to spare when she hit a 4 off Fraser to spark celebrations.
Next up for Scotland in Group D is the hosts South Africa on Monday at Willowmoore Park at 11.45am UK time. The match can be watched on ICC TV.
They then play India on Wednesday.
Scotland playing XI versus UAE:
Ailsa Lister (V-C)
Darcey Carter
Emma Walsingham
Nayma Sheikh
Katherine Fraser (C)
Olivia Bell
Maryam Faisal
Niamh Muir
Orla Montgomery
Niamh Robertson-Jack
Maisie Maceira
