Kathryn and Sarah Bryce were again crucial as Scotland took a huge step towards the T20 World Cup with a 39-run victory over Ireland at the Qualifier in Nepal.
Sarah top-scored with 47 from 31 and Kathryn contributed a 23-ball 30 as Scotland, put in, totalled a healthy 160-5 from their 20 overs.
Jane Maguire was the pick of the Irish attack with 2/20, but further cameos of 36 off 26 balls from Katherine Fraser and 27 not out off just 15 by Megan McColl furthered the Scottish cause.
Sarah’s knock included five fours and a six, while Kathryn also hit five fours, with the latter putting on 37 alongside Fraser and the latter adding 39 with McColl.
Kathryn then bowled opener Christina Coulter Reilly for a third ball duck in the first over of the chase on her way to 4/21 as Ireland could only muster 121 all out in reply.
Captain Gaby Lewis resisted with 41 off 37 balls, but no other Irish batter managed over 20 as Sarah contributed in the field by stumping Arlene Kelly and running out Aimee Maguire.
The latter of those was the match-winning wicket, with the victory seeing Scotland add to the two points they carried through to the Super Six round from the last group stage.
They now have four points and sit in third in the six-team group, with one more win from either of their two remaining matches enough to seal their spot at this summer’s tournament.
The permutations for Ella Claridge’s USA are more difficult, however, and her side will need to win both their remaining games as a minimum to ensure their own spot.
Having not carried through any points from the first round, a weather-affected 21-run defeat to the Netherlands kept them on zero, two behind now-fourth-placed Ireland.
Claridge’s side must either win both their remaining games and hope Ireland lose at least once, or win one of the two and hope Ireland lose twice.
Remaining fixtures in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier
30 January | Bangladesh v Scotland | Kirtipur
30 January | Ireland v Netherlands | Mulpani
30 January | Thailand v United States | Mulpani
1 February | Ireland v Thailand | Kirtipur
1 February | Bangladesh v Netherlands | Mulpani
1 February | Scotland v United States | Kirtipur
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