FIXTURES:
Scotland is placed in Group D and will be locking horns with India, South Africa, & the UAE.
SQUAD:
Scotland has a total of 3 players with 48 international caps between them. The players to have represented the senior team are Katherine Fraser (debut in 2019), Ailsa Lister (debut in 2021), & Olivia Bell (debut in 2022).
Note: Molly Barbour-Smith has been ruled out with Kirsty McColl being named as her replacement
RECENT FORM:
Scotland qualified for this tournament through the Europe Qualifier. Netherlands and Scotland were up against each other in a 3-match series that was hosted by the Netherlands. The series was clinched by Scotland with a margin of 3-0. The squad had traveled to La Manga in Spain in December as a part of their preparation for the global tournament.
Scotland played USA in an unofficial warm-up game where they were defeated by 5 wickets. Generally, the motive of any warm-up is to have all players get some game time & they were able to do exactly that. On 09/01, they played USA again, this time in an official warm-up & they went full-tilt with their squad to defeat them by 45 runs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Darcey Carter - Darcey Carter has plenty of experience playing in England. She was with the Kent U-15s & is currently representing the South East Stars in the regional. Being involved in the regionals, Carter has played with and against several England U-19 players. She bowls right-arm off-spin, but it's her value with the bat that makes her a standout player to watch out for in this competition. She has a very similar stance to Hannah Rowe & caught the eye when she was able to clear the ropes with clean striking for the South East Stars last year. The ball generally just pings off her bat & she makes it look effortless with the gift of timing that she has. She scored 103*(55) in the Qualifiers against the Netherlands and was involved in a 204-run opening stand along with Ailsa Lister.
Katherine Fraser - Fraser comes into this tournament as one of the most capped players. She has represented Scotland in 31 T20Is and her record has been mind-boggling. A teen has got to be special if they make it to the senior side, & Fraser has nicely backed that up with 39 wickets at an incredible average of just 13.2. There is not a player younger than Fraser to have a better T20I bowling strike rate (15.1) in the format. She currently sits 7th overall, but is the youngest at the age of just 17. Not only her magical off-spin would be crucial, but she would be pushing to bat higher up the order and contribute with the bat as well.
Ailsa Lister - The right-handed opener is a serious striker of the ball. She has a cracking technique and the power game to complement it. She has the ability to loft the ball and she does that so well. She made her debut for Scotland in 2021, but had her career lift in the latter half of 2022 when she got better returns with the bat. Lister has always been a force in the Scotland domestics. She has played a pivotal part with the Northern Knights in the Scotland Women's Premier League where she scored back-to-back centuries in mid-2022. In the Qualifiers in 2022, she scored 111 (58) against the Netherlands in the same partnership as mentioned for Darcey Carter.
Olivia Bell - Scotland's cap #75 debuted in 2022 against UAE & that has been her only representation for the senior side so far. But, this is just the start & there's much more to come. She is a right-handed batter with bowling being her strong suit. She is a technically excellent off-spin bowler & her discipline with the ball is a treat to watch. She plays for the Thunder Academy and had a great run in the regional friendlies.
Nayma Sheikh - Nayma Sheikh has an incredible storyline that is only going to develop and capture the imagination of many as she grows. From playing in the same team with her mother in the Wee Bash to now representing her nation at the U-19 level, she has seen it all. The all-rounder took a hattrick for Sutton XI in the Beyond Boundaries Women's Super Series against Ross XI. She has also churned out runs and taken a truckload of wickets for McCrea West of Scotland Cricket.
Orla Montgomery - High pace can go for runs, but high pace gets you wickets! Orla has got to be the fastest pacer in this Scotland side & that variety is much-needed to complement a very good spin attack. The pacer from Dumfries & Galloway women's team showed proved her effectiveness in the official warm-up game against the USA with 3/25 (3).
PREDICTIONS:
Scotland is placed in a tough group, but it's not beyond their ability to finish in the top 3. They have a potent spin attack & a batting lineup that can cause serious damage on any given day.