Scotland Women got their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign off to a perfect start with a dominant nine-wicket win over Italy.
After restricting their opponents to 88-7, Scotland chased down their target inside nine overs, with nine wickets in hand, thanks in large part to a destructive half-century from Ailsa Lister.
Reacting to his side’s victory, Head Coach Craig Wallace said: “It’s been a really good day, we handled the conditions really well. The wicket was good and the bowlers adapted to it well after the first couple of overs, pulling their lengths back and really keeping it tight, bowling lots of dots and maintaining control.
“It was good to keep them to a low total, and then we stuck to our game plan with the bat and played with lots of freedom which was amazing to see.
“We’re looking forward to getting straight back into it tomorrow against the Netherlands, and we know if we play to our strengths like we did today, we’ll come out on top.”
Some tight bowling at the top, led by Priyanaz Chatterji, restricted Italy in the opening overs, Sharon Withanage in particular struggling to get the Scotland bowlers away.
Methnara Rathnayake was finding the boundary with enough regularity to keep the scoreboard ticking at the other end, but after reaching an impressive 30, her innings came to an end in catastrophic fashion.
Her demise was a result of quick thinking from Abtaha Maqsood, the Scotland captain throwing down the stumps at the non-striker’s end after Maryam Faisal’s throw from the deep had flown over Ailsa Lister’s head.
Darcey Carter then struck with her first ball, the next ball of the innings, as Emilia Bartram’s attempted lofted drive was well held by Chloe Abel.
Withanage was the next to go as Niamh Robertson-Jack struck on debut, and Italy had slumped from 42-0 to 46-3.
Chathurika Mahamalage and Regina Suddahazai then took their side up to 65, before Hannah Rainey struck twice in quick succession to remove both, trapping the former LBW before castling Suddahazai.
Italy had navigated their way to 86 by the beginning of the final over, when Chatterji was reintroduced and bowled Dilaisha Nanayakkara.
They would finish their innings on 88-7, Kumudu Peddrick run out by Ailsa Lister attempting to complete a bye off the final ball.
In reply, Ailsa Lister and Darcey Carter set off like a train, routinely hitting over the top and finding the boundary as they brought up a half-century partnership inside five overs.
Carter would eventually perish in the eighth over, after Scotland passed 70, caught by Sonia Toffoletto off the bowling of Nanyakkara for 24.
Maryam Faisal would join Lister at the crease and strike her first ball for four over mid-wicket, and the victory would be secured in the following over.
Ailsa Lister brought up her 50 with a sumptuous drive for four over cover, before completing the task as she found the boundary two balls later, finishing with a stunning unbeaten 54 from 28 balls.
Scotland are straight back in action tomorrow, taking on the Netherlands at 0930 BST.
