Let us take a look at the key highlights of Matches 4, 5, and 6 of the 2021 Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier that took place in Cartagena on 27 August.
Ireland v Scotland, Cartagena
Ireland 89/9 in 20 overs (Rebecca Stokell 21; Katherine Fraser 3-14) lost to Scotland 92/5 in 19 overs (Kathryn Bryce 46*; Ava Canning 2-5) by 5 wickets with 6 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Kathryn Bryce.
Scotland continued their winning momentum by beating Ireland by five wickets in the fourth match. They restricted Ireland to 89/9, and chased down with an over to spare.
Rebecca Stokell top-scored with 21. Barring her, Eimear Richardson (17) and Mary Waldron (12) were the only Irish batters who reached double digits. With 3-14, Katherine Fraser was the pick of the Scottish bowlers. She was ably assisted by Katie McGill (2-18) and Kathryn Bryce (1-18).
Coming to chase, Scotland were reduced to 20/4, and then 42/5. Bryce (46* in 58 balls) and Becky Glen (22* in 19) shared an unbroken 50-run stand to take their side home with an over remaining. Ava Canning returned excellent figures of 4-1-5-2.
France v Germany, Cartagena
France 45 in 15 overs (Thea Graham 12; Bianca Loch 3-12) lost to Germany 46/1 in 9.3 overs (Anuradha Doddaballapur 22*; Thea Graham 1-12) by 9 wickets with 63 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Bianca Loch.
France suffered two big-margin defeats in successive days. Germany beat them by nine wickets in Match 5.
Opting to bat, France never seemed comfortable in the middle. Thea Graham (12) was the only French batter to score in excess of 10, while there were 19 extras. Anuradha Doddaballapur used five German bowlers, and all of them got the wickets as they wrapped France up for just 45 in 15 overs.
Germany lost Anna Healey early, to Thea Graham (1-12), but Christina Gough (14) and Doddaballapur (22) did not show any urgency as they reached the target in 9.3 overs.
Germany v Netherlands, Cartagena
Germany 71/6 in 20 overs (Christina Gough 34; Eva Lynch 2-7) lost to Netherlands 72/3 in 15 overs (Babette de Leede 32; Anna Healey 1-11) by 7 wickets with 30 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Babette de Leede.
Germany were lacklustre against Netherlands in their second match of the day.
Gough played 47 balls for her 34. Doddaballapur (9 in 27 balls) and Janet Ronalds (14 in 25) failed to accelerate as well, as they only managed 71/6 after batting full 20 overs.
Eva Lynch bowled three tight overs for two wickets, conceding just seven. Iris Zwilling (4-1-7-1) was just as impressive.
Netherlands were down to 7/2 early, courtesy Gough (1-19) and Anna Healey (1-11). But Babette de Leede (32) was unmoved, and added 41 with Juliët Post (12) before Doddaballapur (1-17) got her. Post then shared an unbroken 25-run stand with Zwilling (10*) to help her side reach the target with ease.