England blow Scotland away to get to the top of Group B 

Chasing a target of 110, Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge smashed quickfire half-centuries to secure the victory in just ten overs.

England moved to the top of Group B in the Women’s T20 World Cup with one game remaining after a dominant ten-wicket victory over Scotland in Sharjah. By chasing down a modest target of 110 with ten overs to spare, England surpassed South Africa—also on six points but with an extra game played—thanks to a superior net run rate.

The emphatic win, clinched with a boundary by Maia Bouchier—whose unbeaten 62 is now the tournament’s highest individual score—boosted England’s net run rate to surpass that of the West Indies. England and the West Indies will face off on Tuesday in a virtual knockout match, although both teams could still advance together if results work against South Africa.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge contributed a quick-fire 51* off 26 balls in an opening partnership with Maia Bouchier, setting a new record for the highest stand in this World Cup. Their boundary-filled innings, with 76 runs coming from fours alone, marked the end of Scotland’s debut Women’s World Cup campaign, as they bowed out with a fourth consecutive defeat.

Scotland finished their campaign with their highest total after choosing to bat first. Captain Kathryn Bryce anchored the innings with 33 off 28 balls, the only Scottish player to maintain a strike rate above a run-a-ball. She stayed at the crease until the end of the 17th over, having come in at the start of the ninth. Her sister, Sarah Bryce, opened with a solid 27 from 31, contributing the only other notable score. Alisa Lister added a memorable moment by hitting Scotland’s first-ever six at a major tournament, slog-sweeping Sarah Glenn in the 13th over.

England maintained control over Scotland’s innings, though they went wicketless in the powerplay for the first time in six matches as Sarah Bryce and Saskia Horley survived the opening six overs, managing 29 runs. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone was once again England’s standout bowler, taking 2 for 13 from her four overs.

Lauren Bell, making her tournament debut as England looked to capitalize on a seam-friendly pitch, impressed with figures of 1 for 16. Bell was one of two changes, with Sophia Dunkley replacing Alice Capsey, who was rested as a precaution due to recent illness, particularly with England’s only day game ahead.

Bell’s wicket came as she bowled Lorna Jack-Brown for a three-ball duck, marking the end of Jack-Brown’s international career. She retires as Scotland’s most-capped player.

Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge choose aggression

England’s unusual day became evident as they left their hotel with Bangladesh checking out to head home, underscoring the irregular match scheduling. The 2009 champions had played just two games by then, while some teams had already completed their group-stage matches.

South Africa, sitting atop Group B on Sunday morning, had played all four games, while the West Indies were level with England on four points, holding second place with a superior net run rate (NRR) of 1.055, though with an extra game played.

With the task clear, England knew what was needed at the halfway mark: chasing down 110 in 11.5 overs to claim the top spot from South Africa or within 9.3 overs to surpass the West Indies’ NRR. Although they missed the latter, Bouchier’s leg-side boundary at the end of the tenth over ensured England achieved the top-spot goal and secured the win.

Though Scotland struggled with accuracy, Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge unleashed a powerful response, recording England’s first century opening stand in T20 World Cups since 2012, from just 54 balls. They also notched the fastest team fifty of this edition in only 4.4 overs, amassing the largest powerplay total of 66 without loss.

Bouchier started the chase with three consecutive fours off Rachel Slater and soon raced to her third career half-century off just 30 balls. Wyatt-Hodge’s 17th T20I fifty followed even faster, just 24 balls in. The pair’s focused aggression was best reflected in the ten boundaries they struck in a blistering 16-ball period starting from the fourth over.

England’s unusual day became evident as they left their hotel with Bangladesh checking out to head home, underscoring the irregular match scheduling. The 2009 champions had played just two games by then, while some teams had already completed their group-stage matches.

South Africa, sitting atop Group B on Sunday morning, had played all four games, while the West Indies were level with England on four points, holding second place with a superior net run rate (NRR) of 1.055, though with an extra game played.

With the task clear, England knew what was needed at the halfway mark: chasing down 110 in 11.5 overs to claim the top spot from South Africa or within 9.3 overs to surpass the West Indies’ NRR. Although they missed the latter, Bouchier’s leg-side boundary at the end of the tenth over ensured England achieved the top-spot goal and secured the win.

Though Scotland struggled with accuracy, Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge unleashed a powerful response, recording England’s first century opening stand in T20 World Cups since 2012, from just 54 balls. They also notched the fastest team fifty of this edition in only 4.4 overs, amassing the largest powerplay total of 66 without loss.

Bouchier started the chase with three consecutive fours off Rachel Slater and soon raced to her third career half-century off just 30 balls. Wyatt-Hodge’s 17th T20I fifty followed even faster, just 24 balls in. The pair’s focused aggression was best reflected in the ten boundaries they struck in a blistering 16-ball period starting from the fourth over.