New Zealand Women finally have points on the board. After losing their first two games, they held their nerve to defeat Ireland by four runs, defending 140/6 and keeping Ireland to 136/4. That moved them up to third in Group B. Brooke Halliday has 81 runs from three innings and Melie Kerr 80, while Sophie Devine has made 67 at a strike rate close to 149. Maddy Green remains a steady middle-order option.
The bowling has been solid without a clear match-winner. Jess Kerr and Bree Illing have two wickets each, Rosemary Mair removed Gaby Lewis against Ireland, and Suzie Bates defended 10 in the last over of that match. New Zealand will want early wickets, since Scotland have shown they can chase.
Scotland began with a 40-run win over Ireland but lost their next two games. In the latest, they chased a target of around 200 against England and finished on 162/7, which protected their net run rate. Darcey Carter has 102 runs and Sarah Bryce 87, while captain Kathryn Bryce has scored 268 across her last ten internationals. Kirstie Gordon took 3/16 against Ireland and 2/30 against England, and Katherine Fraser has also taken wickets.
Scotland’s pace pair of Rachel Slater and Priyanaz Chatterji add variety, and their fielding has been energetic. Even so, New Zealand’s batting depth should be enough, and our preview picks them.
