Cricket

Scotland's Women's T20 World Cup squad, led by all-rounder Kathryn Bryce, is brimming with talent and experience. The team's maiden appearance at the global tournament will be a testament to their remarkable progress in recent years.Kathryn Bryce, a versatile all-rounder, will don the captain's armband, while her sister Sarah Bryce, a wicketkeeper, will serve as vice-captain. The squad boasts a formidable lineup of all-rounders, including Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, and Megan McColl."The balance of this squad is exceptional," said head coach Craig Wallace. "We have match-winners throughout the lineup, which is a significant improvement in the team's evolution. Players have consistently delivered crucial performances, and that depth extends across the entire squad."Scotland's qualification for the tournament was secured after finishing second to Sri Lanka in the qualifier held in the UAE earlier this year. Their impressive performances in the Netherlands, where they triumphed in five out of six matches in a tri-series against the hosts and Papua New Guinea, further showcased their capabilities."The recent Netherlands series demonstrated the depth within our squad," Wallace added. "Players who were not selected for this tournament have pushed and performed consistently throughout the year. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire group."Thirteen members of Scotland's qualifier squad have been retained for the T20 World Cup, including offspinner Olivia Bell and former captain Abbi Aitken-Drummond, who impressed in the Netherlands.Scotland will face a formidable challenge in Group B, which includes England, Bangladesh, South Africa, and West Indies. They will depart for the UAE in mid-September for a training camp and two warm-up matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Their tournament opener is scheduled against Bangladesh on October 3.

The Blaze have continued their dominance over the South East Stars, securing a resounding 133-run victory (DLS method) in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham.Despite a rain-reduced innings of 44 overs, the Blaze amassed a mammoth 318 for 8, their highest List A score. Sarah Bryce led the charge with a superb 81, while Ella Claridge smashed a career-best 71 from just 45 deliveries. Marie Kelly also contributed a valuable 52.The Stars' chase was derailed by the brilliance of Heather Graham, who claimed an impressive 6 for 39. Alice Davidson-Richards offered some resistance with a defiant 44, but the Blaze's bowling attack proved too strong.The victory marks the Blaze's second consecutive triumph over the Stars in a major final, following their success in the Charlotte Edwards Cup just eight days prior.The Blaze's innings got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of Teresa Graves. However, the Bryce sisters steadied the ship with a 94-run partnership. Kathryn Bryce was eventually dismissed for 30, but Sarah Bryce continued to anchor the innings.After a rain delay, Sarah Bryce fell for 81, but Claridge took over the mantle, launching into a blistering attack. She was eventually caught for 71, but not before Michaela Kirk had chipped in with a useful 18.The Stars' reply began disastrously, with Bryony Smith and Kalea Moore dismissed cheaply. Graham then wreaked havoc, removing Tash Farrant, Emma Jones, Aylish Cranstone, and Alexa Stonehouse in quick succession.Davidson-Richards provided some hope with her aggressive 44, but her dismissal to Graham sealed the victory for the Blaze. Danni Gregory was the final wicket to fall, caught by Cassidy McCarthy off Graham's bowling.The Blaze's victory is a testament to their depth and quality. They have now won three of the last four major domestic trophies in England.

The Blaze emerged victorious in the Charlotte Edwards Cup final, defeating South East Stars by a commanding seven wickets. Kathryn Bryce, the Scotland skipper, led the charge with a match-winning 62 off 44 balls, while her younger sister Sarah contributed an unbeaten 52 from 46 balls.The Blaze's triumph marked a significant achievement for the team, which had suffered heartbreak in both women's regional competitions last season. Captain Kirstie Gordon's strong leadership played a crucial role in their success, as they avoided a repeat of their defeat to Southern Vipers in the previous year's finals.Despite conceding 22 runs in the first over, The Blaze bowlers displayed discipline and skill to restrict Stars to 141 for 9. Australian allrounder Heather Graham claimed 3 for 16, while legspinner Josie Groves took 3 for 33. Georgia Redmayne top-scored for Stars with 25, but their total proved insufficient on a deteriorating surface.The Blaze's chase began steadily, with Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont forming a solid opening partnership. However, Beaumont was run out in a moment of brilliance by bowler Tash Farrant. Marie Kelly's dismissal left the score at 49 for 2 after six overs.Undeterred, Kathryn and Sarah Bryce forged a decisive partnership of 79 runs. Kathryn reached her fifth half-century of the competition in just 31 balls, while Sarah completed her own half-century off 45 balls. Kathryn's dismissal brought Graham to the crease, who sealed the victory with a boundary over mid-off.Kathryn Bryce's outstanding performance earned her the distinction of being the competition's leading runscorer, with an impressive tally of 477 runs. The Blaze skipper, Tash Farrant, also emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps.

The Blaze continued their dominant run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing an eighth consecutive victory with an eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers at Lord's. Kathryn Bryce, the tournament's leading run-scorer, once again proved her prowess with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls.Bryce's innings, her fourth half-century in six games, was the cornerstone of The Blaze's chase. She shared a crucial 100-run partnership with her younger sister Sarah, who contributed an unbeaten 54 from 35 deliveries. The Bryce sisters' partnership ensured The Blaze maintained their 100% record in the group stage, reaching their target with 29 balls to spare.Earlier, Sunrisers captain Grace Scrivens led her team's batting effort with a top score of 42 from 38 balls. However, The Blaze's bowlers kept the Sunrisers in check, restricting them to 137 for seven. Marie Kelly's direct hit from mid-off accounted for Scrivens, while Heather Graham claimed two wickets in three deliveries to stifle Sunrisers' momentum.The Blaze's chase got off to a shaky start when Tammy Beaumont was dismissed for a duck. However, Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership. Kelly's dismissal brought Kathryn Bryce to the crease, and she quickly asserted her dominance. Bryce reached her half-century in just 33 deliveries and continued to accelerate the scoring rate.Sarah Bryce also played a vital role, hitting two sixes in two balls off Eva Gray. She went on to post her first 50 of the tournament before sealing the victory with a square-cut boundary off Amu Surenkumar.The victory all but mathematically ends Sunrisers' hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, while The Blaze remain firmly in contention for a top-two finish in the group stage.

The Blaze continued their dominance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford. Kirstie Gordon's exceptional bowling performance, coupled with Sarah Bryce's sharp wicketkeeping, restricted Thunder to a modest total of 111 for 9.Gordon's slow left-arm bowling proved lethal, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs. Her accuracy and variations kept the Thunder batters in check, while Bryce's lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps resulted in four stumpings.Thunder's innings got off to a shaky start as Fi Morris and Seren Smale were dismissed cheaply. Emma Lamb provided some resistance with a 20-run knock, but Gordon's dismissal of her in the eighth over left Thunder struggling at 44 for 3.Ellie Threlkeld and Danni Collins attempted to rebuild the innings with a 43-run partnership, but their efforts were cut short by Lucy Higham's intervention. Higham's off-spin accounted for Threlkeld and Ailsa Lister, while Collins fell victim to Sarah Bryce's stumping.Kathryn Bryce's 19th over proved to be Thunder's most productive, yielding 17 runs. However, Gordon returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Graham.In contrast to Thunder's struggles, The Blaze openers, Tammy Beaumont and Teresa Graves, made batting look effortless. They put on a 50-run partnership before Graves departed for 29. Kathryn Bryce joined Beaumont and added a further 36 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable victory.Beaumont remained unbeaten on 34, guiding The Blaze home with 4.2 overs to spare. Sarah Bryce's dismissal in the final over did little to dampen the team's spirits as they maintained their 100% record in the tournament.