Scotland search for redemption after crashing out of tournament

As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 reaches the business end of the tournament, all the focus shifts to the two semi-finals. Bangladesh, Ireland, Thailand and Papua New Guinea are the four teams in contention for a place in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2020 in Australia, and they are, quite deservedly, basking in the limelight.



Meanwhile, under the radar— much like the sun in Scotland— the remaining teams will clash in the two playoffs at Lochlands in Arbroath on Thursday (September 5).



Scotland v Namibia



Scotland will be heart-broken about being knocked out in the league stages of the tournament. Normally part of the top four, the hosts were looking for a top two finish this time around. Realistically, considering their recent run of form against Ireland and their victory against Thailand to end their record breaking run, had they made it to the knockouts, they did stand a real chance.



However, the fairytale was not to be and the hosts are left facing Namibia in a playoff match on Thursday.



Kathryn Bryce has been one of the standouts for Scotland with bat and ball. She has carried her good form with the ball from her stint in the Women’s Cricket Super League with Loughborough Lightning, and continued to provide her team with early breakthroughs. However, with the bat, she has not yet found any support from the rest of the order. While Kathryn alone has scored 95 runs in three matches, the rest of the order has managed a total of 94 runs in 17 innings.



With the ball too, Kathryn has been Scotland’s leading wicket taker with five wickets in three matches so far. Katherine Fraser, only 14-years-old and playing the first major tournament of her career, has shown a wonderful temperament with the ball and in the field as well, while Abtaha Maqsood, the leg-spinner, has also bowled impressively. However, aside from them, the hosts have had little to cheer about.



 

What were you doing when you were 14?

Bet you weren't taking stunning catches for your country like Katherine Fraser!#SCOvBAN | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wxfamcd2Vf



— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 3, 2019

 



Despite their struggles in the tournament so far, Scotland will start as heavy favourites against Namibia. The African side, who snuck in to the tournament at the expense of Zimbabwe, have shown glimpses of potential, but have largely looked out of their depth.



In their maiden appearance in the Qualifier, they have suffered three heavy defeats, but have consistently shown improvement. Their performance wit the ball against Thailand was commendable, and Yasmeen Khan will be hoping that her team can repeat that.



 



Netherlands v United States of America



After a couple of disappointing games to begin the tournament, Netherlands bounced back well against Namibia to register their first win of the tournament. Heather Siegers and Iris Zwilling starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each, before the former’s cameo at the end got Netherlands over the line.



 

Netherlands picked up their first win of the #T20WorldCup Qualifier today!

They were outstanding in the field throughout, taking every chance that came their way👏 pic.twitter.com/WtUOEM4xjg



— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 3, 2019

 



Sterre Kalis, the 20-year-old opening batter has been unable to capitalise on her starts so far. After falling for a first ball duck on day one, she scored an impressive 46 against Ireland in the second match, steering Netherlands in the direction of a win, before her wicket triggered a collapse. Against Namibia too, Kalis looked set to see the team through, but was dismissed for 35 with victory in sight.



Kalis’ promising form aside, Netherlands has had to little to cheer about with the bat. Their bowling too has been unpredictable at best— as a result of which they finished third in their group, behind Thailand and Ireland, and will now face a dilapidated USA in their play-off game.



USA are down in the dumps. They have lost all three of their games and seem to have hit a wall with the bat. They have compiled scores of 30 for 5 (in seven overs) 46 all out (in 19.5 overs) and 94 for 7 (in 17 overs). Their boundary count through the tournament reads eight fours and two sixes.



While Erica Rendler, their opening batter, showed that she was capable of sending the ball over the rope with a 26-ball 35 against PNG, there was little from the other batters to indicate that USA had more depth in their line-up. Their biggest issue has been the combined failure of Shebani Bhaskar and Sindhu Sriharsha, the captain. The pair have together scored 41 runs off 66 balls, further underlying their team’s issues with the bat.



With the ball, Lisa Ramjit, all of 14, has been one of their standouts. While she doesn't have a truck load of wickets to her name, she has been economical and given her captain a sense of control even in the most difficult circumstances.