Scots hold their nerve to claim first win

Scotland claimed a narrow 7 run victory in a thriller, holding their nerve as PNG fought all the way towards a victory target of 170.

Having been asked to bat Scotland make a brisk start despite the early loss of Sarah Bryce who edged to keeper Tau.

A flurry of boundaries had taken them to 25 in the first 5 overs but with only 12 coming off the next 10 they were getting bogged down against a disciplined PNG attack.

Once again it was Kari Anderson and Rachel Scholes who steadied the ship and rebuilt putting on 59 together before Anderson departed for 26.

PNG Skipper Pauke Siaka now brought herself on as the eighth bowler and having removed Scholes proceeded to return the remarkable figures of 7 overs 6 wickets for 19!

However a late burst from Liz Priddle who finished with 31 off 36 deliveries saw the Scots to what seemed a defendable total of 169 losing their final wicket to the last delivery of the final over.

In reply PNG posted 72, losing their first wicket when Tanya Ruma was run out in the 24th over.

By then Scotland had tried six bowlers as they searched for the breakthrough while PNG settled for safe accumulation of runs in pursuit of the Scottish total.

A run out by Anderson followed quickly by wickets for both her and Kathryn Bryce stopped PNG in their tracks and when Tau also fell to Anderson Scotland seemed to have taken charge.

PNG however managed to scramble together a dozen runs or so for each of the next few wickets and at the end of the 47th over 31 were required for an unlikely victory.

The 48th and 49th went at a run-a-ball leaving Naz Chatterji to defend 20 from the last.

Two sets of 4 byes and a boundary set Scottish nerves on edge and somehow PNG were still there needing 8 from the final 2 deliveries.

But in the end it was Chatterji who held her nerve, bowling a ‘dot’ with the fifth and holding a return catch off the final delivery to leave PNG 8 short of their target.

Cue Scottish celebrations at the end of what was the closest match in the tournament thus far.

Scotland will finish their round of group matches with a game on Monday against Pakistan.

11 Feb at Mercantile CC, Colombo.

Scotland 169 all out (50 overs; R Scholes 35, E Priddle 31, K Anderson 26, P Siaka 6-19)

PNG 162 all out (50 overs; B Tau 46, T Ruma 32, K Anderson 3-35

Scotland won by 7 runs.