Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl against Scotland in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Emirates Old Trafford, with both teams chasing their first-ever victory in the tournament.
Women’s T20 WC: Ireland win toss and elect to bowl against Scotland (Credit: Cricket Ireland)
Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl against Scotland in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday, with both sides chasing a landmark first victory in the tournament’s history.
The clash carries added significance as neither team has ever won a match at the Women’s T20 World Cup. Ireland return to the competition after missing the 2024 edition, while Scotland are making only their second appearance on the global stage and are still searching for their maiden World Cup win.
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Ireland head into the contest looking to end a run of 16 winless matches across previous Women’s T20 World Cup campaigns, while Scotland have lost all four of their matches at the tournament so far. Saturday’s encounter therefore guarantees one side a chance to rewrite history and kick-start its campaign on a positive note.
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Scotland will draw confidence from recent meetings, having won each of their last three matches against Ireland. However, with a fresh World Cup campaign underway and valuable points at stake, both teams will be eager to seize the opportunity to make a winning start.
For Ireland, qualification itself was an important achievement after failing to secure a place in the previous edition. The side arrives with renewed belief and a squad that has gained valuable experience against stronger opposition in recent years. Much of their hopes will rest on the performances of all-rounder Orla Prendergast and a disciplined bowling unit capable of applying pressure throughout an innings. The key challenge will be converting promising spells into a complete performance.
With both teams desperate to break their World Cup duck, the clash promises to be a fiercely contested battle between familiar rivals eager to create history.
Winning the toss, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis said:
“It is so great to be back. Hopefully we start with a win. We are going to have a bowl. It is overcast and we will try to make use of the conditions. We are gone for two spinners, we have all facets covered and want to make an impact.”
Meanwhile, Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce said:
“We would have probabaly had a bowl. It is a plain surface, bit of rain around and there might be some help for the bowlers. Feeling ready to go.”
Ireland: Alana Dalzell, Amy Hunter (wk), Gaby Lewis (c), Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Leah Paul, Alice Tector, Arlene Kelly, Ava Canning, Cara Murray, Aimee Maguire
Scotland: Darcey Carter, Katherine Fraser, Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce (wk), Megan McColl, Ailsa Lister, Priyanaz Chatterji, Rachel Slater, Kirstie Gordon, Chloe Abel, Gabriella Fontenla
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