Izzy Sharp’s maiden T20I half-century fired New Zealand to a six-wicket victory over Scotland as they kept their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive.
A 101-run stand with Brooke Halliday helped the White Ferns recover from a shaky start to successfully chase 132 and keep their qualification dreams intact.
Darcey Carter had earlier starred with an unbeaten 72, and Kathryn Bryce took two for 13, but Scotland’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup semi-final were ended.
CARTER AND KERR SHINE AS SCOTLAND POST COMPETITIVE TOTAL
New Zealand won the toss and fielded first on a baking day at the Bristol County Ground, with Sophie Devine returning after illness and Lea Tahuhu in for her first game of the tournament.
Carter got the ball rolling with a cut for four in the first over and found the boundary with ease in the early stages. She crashed a six off Jess Kerr in the fifth over and followed it with a four as she carried Scotland to 45 without loss after the powerplay.
Katherine Fraser (7) was the first to depart, having been dropped by Isabella Gaze earlier on, with Tahuhu (1/19) claiming her 100th T20I wicket.
Captain Kathryn Bryce was then dismissed by Amelia Kerr for five, as the New Zealand bowlers fought back.
Sarah Bryce supported Carter valiantly, finding her flow after being put down by Nensi Patel on 13, before the opener reached her half-century in the 14th over, but appeared to be struggling with the extreme heat at drinks.
Carter’s partner was trapped LBW off the first ball after the break, Devine’s first delivery of the day, for 25, and Ailsa Lister (2) and Megan McColl (1) departed cheaply as Scotland’s innings threatened to shudder to a halt.
Two boundaries were taken off Patel’s 18th over, before Priyanaz Chatterji (12) and Pippa Sproul (0) both fell to Amelia Kerr (3/17) in the following set, a double-wicket maiden.
Carter took 10 off the final over to finish 72 not out, becoming the competition’s leading run-scorer, with New Zealand set 132 to win.
SHARP AND HALLIDAY TAKE NEW ZEALAND TO VICTORY AFTER SHAKY START
New Zealand stuttered at the start of their chase, losing three wickets inside the powerplay as Kathryn Bryce (2/13) dismissed Amelia Kerr (2) and Gaze (16), while Devine (1) was bowled by Rachel Slater.
Sharp, promoted to number three, and Halliday steadily rebuilt, bringing up their 50-run partnership off 48 balls in the 13th over, with their side 78 for three.
The acceleration came after the 14th-over drinks break, with Halliday (41*) hitting Rainey for consecutive fours.
A pair of boundaries followed off Fraser, with White Ferns requiring 25 runs from the final four overs.
Sharp brought up a maiden T20I half-century as she fired Kirstie Gordon for consecutive boundaries as the victory line moved into sight.
Six over long-off followed, before she was bowled by Slater (2/22) for 62, with the partnership worth 101.
Maddy Green hit her first ball for four, and a leg-bye finished the job as New Zealand kept their World Cup dreams alive, moving third in the table and two points behind England and the West Indies, who play each other in their game in hand.
Scores in brief
New Zealand vs Scotland – Bristol County Ground, Bristol
Scotland: 131/7 in 20 overs (Darcey Carter 72 not out, Sarah Bryce 25; Amelia Kerr 3/17, Sophie Devine 2/19)
New Zealand: 132/4 in 18.2 overs (Izzy Sharp 62, Brooke Halliday 41*; Kathryn Bryce 2/13, Rachel Slater 2/22)
Result: New Zealand win by six wickets
The Belgian
Sport Trivia: Who was the first SA cricketer to take a hat trick in Test cricket? Answer: Geoff Griffin in the second test match against England at Lords in June 1960 — he dismissed Mike Smith, caught by the wicket-keeper, then bowled Peter Walker and Freddy Trueman. England went on to win the game by an innings and 73 runs. He never played another test match after that, due to his continually being called no-ball for alleged throwing.
Twinkle
Australia has a strong domestic rugby competition called the National Rugby Championship (NRC), which features clubs from across the country. In addition, Australian franchises participate in the Super Rugby competition, competing against teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan.