Historic Victory for Scotland: Bryce Sisters Lead the Charge
Scotland’s captain, Kathryn Bryce, was overwhelmed with emotion after leading her team to their first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualification.
In the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier event held in Abu Dhabi, Scotland triumphed over Ireland by eight wickets. This victory secured Scotland’s place alongside Sri Lanka in the main event in Bangladesh, scheduled for early October.
Scotland’s qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup marks a historic first for the team. For Bryce, this achievement is the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance, having narrowly missed out on qualification in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
Bryce’s journey began at the age of 18 when she participated in her first qualifier in Thailand in 2015. Scotland narrowly missed out on a spot at the 2016 T20 World Cup, losing to Ireland in the semi-finals.
Ireland vs Scotland | Semi-final 1 | Match Highlights | Women’s T20WC Qualifier 2024
After three more unsuccessful campaigns, Bryce finally achieved her goal with a Player of the Match performance in the semi-finals against Ireland, leading her team to this year’s event in October.
Bryce expressed her gratitude to those who played before her and acknowledged the challenges they faced in previous qualifiers. She also shared her emotional journey, stating that the thought of participating in the World Cup brings tears to her eyes.
The victory was particularly special for Bryce, who has spent most of her international career playing alongside her younger sister, Sarah. The sisters were unbeaten at the crease when Kathryn scored the winning runs off Ireland’s Eimear Richardson in the 17th over.
Sarah reflected on their journey, from their first qualifier in 2015 to finally crossing the line in 2024. She expressed her joy at being part of the 12th women’s team to make it to the T20 World Cup and shared her gratitude for experiencing this journey with her sister.
ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade: Kathryn Bryce
While Scotland has achieved their goal of qualifying for this year’s T20 World Cup, they aim to end the Qualifier tournament on a high note by defeating Sri Lanka in the final on Tuesday. Kathryn emphasized the need to focus on the upcoming match and finish the Qualifier in style.
Kathryn expressed her joy at the achievement, stating that the reality of their success hasn’t fully sunk in yet. She also acknowledged the overwhelming support they have received and expressed her difficulty in putting her feelings into words.