Maia Bouchier’s Unbeaten 62 Powers England to Victory

Maia Bouchier’s unbeaten 62 powered England to a dominant 10-wicket win over Scotland, bringing them closer to the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals. Scotland playing for pride in their final group match, posted their highest tournament score of 109-6, thanks to Kathryn Bryce’s 33 and her sister Sarah’s 27. Sophie Ecclestone stood out as England’s bowler with figures of 2-13 while Lauren Bell impressed in her first tournament appearance, taking 1-13.

England chased the target effortlessly, with Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge both scoring half-centuries to secure the win in just 10 overs. Bouchier whose form had been patchy, found her rhythm by hitting three boundaries off the first three balls of the innings and reached her fifty in 30 balls. England’s net run-rate received a significant boost, positioning them well to advance with a game against West Indies still to play.

Despite their defeat, Scotland can take pride in their performance. Their total approached the average first-innings score at Sharjah and highlights included Ailsa Lister’s 72-meter six which marked their first of the tournament. The Bryce sisters also showcased their class with solid knocks. Although Scotland’s bowlers struggled, they never embarrassed themselves in their debut World Cup and demonstrated their potential for future competitions.

Now at the top of Group B, England can secure their semi-final spot with a win in their next match. Captain Heather Knight praised Maia Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge for their composed and powerful batting performance. Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce expressed pride in her team’s efforts despite a tough tournament, focusing on the valuable experience they gained from playing against top-tier teams like England.