Scotland hammer Ireland to secure first-ever T20 World Cup win

Scotland claimed their first-ever ICC Women's T20 World Cup win with a 40-run thumping of Ireland in their opening match of the 2026 tournament at Old Trafford.

Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce and former England spinner Kirstie Gordon were the difference makers as the former smashed 60 off 39 balls to set Ireland a stiff 162 to win, before Gordon (3-16) dismantled their middle order with three wickets in four balls.

Sarah Bryce (49 off 35) was also instrumental in the victory, sharing in a 106-run partnership with her sister that helped Scotland recover from 36-2 to post 161-5 after being inserted.

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Katherine Fraser (15) had been the first to fall, to a terrific Alice Tector catch in the swirling wind on the deep midwicket boundary, while Darcey Carter (14) was cleaned up by an Aimee Maguire (1-37) yorker.

The Bryce sisters joined forces in the sixth over and proceeded to belt the ball to all parts, which included taking 36 from the 11th and 12th overs.

At that stage it looked like Scotland might threaten a score of 180-plus, but they faded down the stretch, with only 19 runs added in the final four overs as Sarah Bryce fell one short of her half century and Kathryn was finally dismissed in the 19th - Ava Canning finishing with 3-27.

In reply, Ireland never got going, as Kathryn Bryce's day got even better with a brilliant, one-handed catch off her own bowling to dismiss Alana Dalzell (6) in the opening over.

Ireland fell badly behind the required rate and were only 37-2 in the eighth over when captain Gaby Lewis' painstaking 19-ball stay in the middle was ended for 11, stumped by Sarah Bryce off Fraser (3-19).

Fraser added Amy Hunter for 33, before Gordon then took charge in the 13th over, seeing off Rebecca Stokell (6) and Tector (0) - both bowled - either side of Leah Paul (0), claimed caught and bowled.

The wickets of Paul and Tector had Gordon on a hat-trick to start her next over, which she was so close to claiming when one turned past Orla Prendergast's outside edge.

Ultimately Prendergast (33) was one of a couple of calamitous run outs late on as Ireland were bowled out for 121, with Kathryn Bryce fittingly claiming the final wicket.

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