Scotland Women, making their second appearance in ICC T20 World Cups, recorded their first-ever win in the competition with a 40-run victory against Ireland Women in the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Old Trafford on June 13.
Speaking after the game, Scotland opener and all-rounder Katherine Fraser stated that the team saw it coming, as they had beaten both Nepal and Ireland in previous encounters, adding that they will take a lot of confidence from this fixture.
"We saw it coming. We beat
Ireland in Nepal earlier this year, obviously, so I think we took a lot of confidence from that result. Going in we knew it would be a tough game but we also knew that we needed to back ourselves to get the win," Fraser said, speaking after the game, via ESPNcricinfo.
Being put into bat, Scotland put up a total of 161 for 5 in their 20 overs, with captain Kathryn Bryce scoring a 39-ball 60, stitching a stand of 106 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, who scored a 35-ball 49. The skipper was again in action with the ball, picking up figures of 2 for 19 in 3.1 overs and finishing with the Player of the Match award.
Fraser stated that the win and the subsequent performances were a result of the effort and investment Scotland Cricket has put into the team. She lauded the sacrifice her team had put into preparation for the tournament, and backed their status as a team that is here to win matches.
"It shows the investment that Scottish cricket's put into us and just shows the talent of the individuals in this group. We've spent so much of our careers not being professional cricketers, with people training after work and having to take on paid leave to come and play for Scotland. That has been difficult, but now that we've got those professional contracts, we are able to put in the hours over the winter and obviously getting time away is much easier," she said.
Hopefully this really does put a mark and shows we are here to win games and other opposition don't take us lightly. I had so much fun. I was able to take moments throughout the day to just take a breath and realise how special it is. I had a great time," she added.
Ireland was bowled out for 121 in pursuit of the total, the architect of which was the returning Kirstie Gordon. The left-arm spinner has played five T20Is and a Test for England, but committed her future to Scotland in late 2025. She was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 3 for 16 from her four overs. Along with Fraser, who finished with figures of 3 for 19, Gordon tightened the screws on the Ireland innings. Fraser praised Gordon for her bowling and the momentum her wickets gave them with the ball.
"I was next to her during the anthem and I said to her, 'that was amazing, just being able to sing the anthem' and obviously with so many Scottish supporters today. I think all of us were pretty emotional but the way she bowled today was incredible. She embodies Scottish passion. She was brilliant with the run she got us on and it definitely got us ahead in that ball game," Fraser said.
Scotland will take on the West Indies in their next game at Headingley on June 18. They have just faced the Windies once, in the 2024 edition of the tournament, where they were beaten by six wickets.
