Scotland's Sister Act guides them to opening World Cup win

Captain Kathryn top-scored with 60 runs, with Sarah making 49, as Scotland defeated Celtic rivals Ireland by 40 runs in Manchester.

In reply, Kathryn then took two wickets at either end of Ireland’s innings while wicketkeeper Sarah produced a stumping and a run out.

The cast of Wicked took centre stage at Friday’s opening ceremony but this was a case of Sister Act.

"There's a lot of emotions flying around right at the moment. It was absolutely outstanding," Kathryn Bryce said after being named Player of the Match. “Looking at the crowd, the support from both teams was outstanding, so massive thanks to everyone who travelled down.

"The way Sarah attacked in the middle made it really easy for me at the other end. I was really pleased to go out there and set the tone for the competition. I just want to be able to put in a performance for the team."

The Bryces came together after Katherine Fraser and Darcey Carter departed inside the powerplay, leaving Scotland 36 for two. Boundaries were hard to come by on a slow outfield, but the siblings ran between the wickets almost telepathically to keep the run rate ticking over.

The halfway stage of the innings marked the point of acceleration as the pair took 36 runs from the next two overs. Kathryn brought up her fifty in the 15th over, doing so off 32 balls, the first half-century for Scotland at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

In reaching that landmark, she also surpassed her sister’s mark of 49 as the previous best Scotland score at a World Cup, while the same boundary brought up another milestone, Scotland’s first century partnership in this competition’s history.

Fraser, who took three wickets, said: “That hundred partnership was just an example of how good they are. We lost two fairly early wickets, and how they went around that innings, got themselves in and were able to really accelerate was brilliant.”

Scotland then faltered as Ailsa Lister and Kathryn Bryce fell in the same Ava Canning over, with Bryce dismissed for 60 from 39 balls, as Ireland were set 162 to win.

Patient batting was followed by diligent bowling as Ireland struggled to get their chase going, with Kathryn Bryce taking a stunning one-handed catch off her own bowling to dismiss Alana Dalzell for six in the opening over.

Fraser took the crucial wicket of captain Gaby Lewis before dismissing the dangerous Amy Hunter for 39 to halt Ireland’s momentum. The Irish balloon was well and truly burst when Kirstie Gordon took three wickets in an over, dismissing Rebecca Stokell, Leah Paul and Alice Tector without conceding a run to leave Ireland reeling on 70 for six.

Gordon wheeled away in delight after the third wicket, as she enjoyed a perfect return to World Cup cricket. The spinner from Huntly switched from Scotland to England in time for the 2018 T20 World Cup, where she played in the final, before declaring for Scotland again last December.

“I was next to her during the anthem and just to be able to sing the anthem with so many Scottish supporters in was really special,” Fraser said. “I think all of us were pretty emotional. But the way she bowled today was incredible, and I think she just embodies Scottish passion. She was brilliant, the roll she got us on, it didn’t seal the game, but it definitely got us ahead in that bowling innings.”

The game ended with two run outs before Kathryn Bryce returned to the attack to take the final wicket, with Ireland dismissed for 121. The game’s conclusion sparked jubilant scenes for Scotland, as they claimed their maiden victory two years after making their tournament debut.

“It is definitely up there as one of my best moments in cricket. In fact, it has to be the best,” Fraser said. “It is amazing. Last time round it was quite a tough competition for us, to not get any wins, but this time round, to get that win, especially in our first game, it gives us a lot of confidence.

“We saw it coming. We beat Ireland in Nepal earlier this year, so we took a lot of confidence from that result. Going in, we knew it would be a tough game, but we also knew we really backed ourselves to get the win. The immediate feeling is one of joy.

“When we have qualified for the World Cup, both times, that sort of day makes the hard work worth it. But this is even more special, to do it on the world stage.”

Follow the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at https://www.icc-cricket.com/.