Scotland's hopes of World Cup qualification were ended by a thrilling final-ball one-wicket loss to Ireland in their last match of the Women's World Cup Qualifier today (April 18).
Ireland went into the final over of the game eight wickets down, needing seven to win the match. Kathryn Bryce took the ball to try and deliver some magic for Scotland, who would jump to six points, equal to Bangladesh in second position in the table, if they won the game. They would then still be in with a chance of qualifying for the main tournament on NRR if Bangladesh lost to Pakistan tomorrow.
However, having restricted Laura Delany to just a single off the first two balls of the over, Ava Canning hit a four to bring the equation down to two needed from the final three balls. Scotland hopes were kept alive when Canning was bowled by Bryce's next delivery, bring No.11 batter Cara Murray to the crease. Murray scramble through for a leg bye off the penultimate delivery of the match, leaving the scores level.
With no super over applicable for the game, one point being awarded in the case of a tie, that leg bye effectively ended Scotland's hopes of qualification. Delany then managed to take another leg-bye off the final ball of the game, securing a one-wicket victory for Ireland.
Scotland Women fail to qualify for the World Cup 💔
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 18, 2025
They lose a heartbreaking last-ball one-wicket game, ending with four points from five games. pic.twitter.com/XyxQzGC1S1
Both Ireland and Scotland have now completed their matches in the Qualifier, both finishing with two wickets from five games. Ireland were already eliminated from Qualification possibility before the game against Scotland.
Earlier in the match, Bryce had hit the highest score ever in a Women's World Cup Qualifier, and the highest score for Scotland in a women's ODI, with an unbeaten 131* off 137 balls. Her runs made up almost half of Scotland's total of 268-7. Ireland's opening pair of Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis got the chase off to a strong start with a 109-run partnership, both making half-centuries. The rest of the chase was underpinned by Delany's unbeaten 57 off 63 balls, with Bryce the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.
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Scotland qualified for the T20 World Cup last year, and were in a strong position to qualify for the 50-over edition this year after their win over West Indies in their opening game of the tournament. However, losses against Bangladesh and Pakistan hampered their points total ahead of the decisive fixture today.
With hosts Pakistan already qualified, all eyes will turn to their fixture against Bangladesh tomorrow (April 19). If Bangladesh win, they will knock West Indies out of the qualification contest. If they lose, West Indies must beat Thailand by a big margin to overtake Bangladesh on NRR and qualify for the main tournament.
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