SCOTLAND RECORD THEIR THIRD WIN WITH A DOMINANT 10-WICKET VICTORY

SCOTLAND RECORD THEIR THIRD WIN WITH A DOMINANT 10-WICKET VICTORY

The third day of the ICC Women’s Emerging Trophy being held in Bangkok saw wins for Scotland, Thailand, Netherlands and Uganda. Scotland continued their impressive tour to Thailand by winning their third match in the Emerging Nations Trophy to add to the three wins they recorded in the Quad Cup, while hosts Thailand returned to winning ways against Namibia. Netherlands had earlier won their second match of the tournament by beating Tanzania by 7 wickets and Uganda won their first match by beating PNG by 4 runs.

Scotland played United Arab Emirates at TCG and the UAE would have hoped to put pressure on the Scots after Tanzania had pushed them hard on Friday before Scotland had won by five runs, In fact it was a one-sided match as Scotland dominated from the moment their opening bowlers Olivia Bell and Rachel Slater each took an early wicket and prime UAE batter Esha Oza was run out for 13 having stroked two boundaries.

UAE were restricted to 93 for 8 in their 20 overs as Katherine Fraser returned the best figures of 2 for 12. Scotland made an attractive start to their chase as openers Darcey Carter and Alisa Lister took the score to 41 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. Carter had already made two unbeaten fifties in Scottish victories so with wickets and runs as well is an early candidate for player of the tournament.

Scotland brought their fifty up in the ninth over and they had reached 61 at the halfway stage with a further 33 runs required. 20 runs came off the next three overs as Alisa Lister began to take most of the strike so the main question became would Darcey Carter score her third fifty of the tournament before the target was reached. She has been in marvellous form so there was no problem as she reached the impressive milestone with an imperious straight six.

Scotland achieved an impressive victory by 10 wickets to take a commanding position at the top of the group table as they reached 94 for no wicket in 14.5 overs with Carter on 54 from 56 balls with 5 fours and a six and Lister on 37 from 33 with 4 fours and a six.

Thailand returned to winning ways by defeating Namibia in the afternoon at AIT after their surprise defeat at the hands of PNG but they had to work hard for their victory before winning by 27 runs.

Thailand made a poor start to their innings after being asked to bat first as both openers were out in the first two overs as Naomi Benjamin and Eveleen Kejarukua took a wicket apiece and both continued to bowl their four overs in a single spell as Thailand lost their first four wickets for just 22.

Natthakan Chantham remained at the crease and Thailand inched up towards a defendable score but at 78 for 6 after 17 overs the hosts were still short of runs. 37 runs came from the last three overs as Thailand burst into life thanks to Chantham and Phannita Maya as Chantham finished on 58* from 56 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes while Maya hit 13 from 9 balls.

It was an impressive end to the innings and Namibia also lost early wickets as they stumbled to 11 for two in the opening two overs. Kayleen Green and Yasmeen Khan shared a stand of 48 fir the third wicket as Green made 22 and Yasmeen 27 but spinners Sunida Chaturongrattan and Onnicha Kamchomphu both took two wickets in successive balls as Sunida recorded figures of 3 for 19.

Namibia were restricted to a total of 88 for 8 to fall 27 runs short and Thailand had won their second match of the tournament to claim second place behind Scotland. Their top-order batting which had been steady in the Quad Cup has been a disappointment so far in the Emerging Nations Trophy

The first winners of day three were Netherlands who won their second match of the tournament by beating Tanzania by seven wickets at AIT. Tanzania had been impressive with the bat so far and had come close to defeating Scotland in their second match but they were bowled out for 62 in the 20^th over with Iris Zwilling claiming three wickets for 13 in her four overs and being backed up by Frederique Overdick, Silver Siegars and Hannah Landheer who all took two wickets as Netherlands produced an outstanding bowling display,

Sterre Kalis gave her side a good start in response as she hit 24 from 29 balls with 4 fours and then Robine Rijke and Frederique Overdijk saw the Netherlands home to a convincing victory with 7.4 overs to spare as they moved on to four points after three matches.

Uganda had been the only team without a win so far in the tournament but they held on to beat Papua New Guinea by four runs after the EAP champions had been so impressive against Thailand in their previous match.

Uganda batted sensibly to reach 117 for 4 in their 20 overs thanks largely to their captain Janet Mbabazi who batted through the innings to make an unbeaten 60 from 58 balls with 5 fours and a six and she was given good support by Immaculate Nakisuuyi who made 20.

PNG would have had to bat well to reach their target but they struggled in the early overs to reach 36 for one after 10 overs. Brenda Tau and Henao Thomas increased the run rate as Thomas hit two sixes but it was Pauke Siaka who injected some momentum into the chase with a hard hitting 39 from 23 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. It was Mbabazi who took her wicket and the captain took the responsibility of bowling the final over. PNG needed a boundary from the last ball to tie the scores but it was not to be as they finished on 113 for 7 and there was little doubt that Mbabazi would be named player of the match.