CELTIC CLASH SEES IRELAND AND SCOTLAND MEET FOR FIRST TIME AT ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

Media release

Scotland meet Ireland for the first time in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday in a Celtic clash for the ages. 

Ireland were absent for the 2024 edition, where Scotland made their debut, and both are looking for their first-ever win at the tournament. 

With Scotland winning the most recent meeting at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, Ireland will be out for revenge at Old Trafford, with the match getting underway at 10h30 local time. 

“It is so good to be back, it makes you cherish this experience a lot more,” Ireland captain Gaby Lewis said. 

“There was a huge devastation after (missing out in 2024), and it was even more special qualifying in Nepal, and there is huge excitement around the group.  

“We are taking it one match at a time. Obviously, that first game against Scotland and getting that first victory at a World Cup would be amazing, and then after that, you never know what a bit of momentum does.  

“It’ll be great, obviously, being at Old Trafford, I was over playing at Lancashire with some of the girls that play for Scotland, so it will be nice to play against them.  

“There is lots of rivalry between us and Scotland, they one-upped us after Nepal, but hopefully we can fight back in the first game.” 

Ireland were the first team to have to make a change to their squad after former skipper Laura Delany was ruled out with an injury in the tri-series that preceded the tournament. 

It means that there are only two players born in the 1990s in the 15-player squad after Delany was replaced by 18-year-old Alice Tector. 

Lewis added: “Laura is a big loss, her experience, she has been around for so many years, and you can really tell from the group, it really is a massive loss. 

“It is a time for the girls to step up. We are a young side, but they are really grabbing those opportunities.  

“You can see from the last two years, we have had some good performances against top-ranked nations, and we are looking to build on that into this World Cup.” 

Meanwhile, Scotland are searching for consistency after their debut appearance in 2024 ended with four defeats. 

They have shown their growth with defeats of the Netherlands and full member Pakistan in the warm-up games, with captain Kathryn Bryce making 94 in the latter match. 

Scotland are able to call on several players who ply their trade in the English county system, including Ailsa Lister, Darcey Carter and Olivia Bell, who all play regularly at Old Trafford for Lancashire. 

Bryce said: “We have been really fortunate to be playing down at counties, and I think to be so close to home and to have the support that is going to come down and watch. 

“The familiarity of playing week in, week out, especially the T20 Blast, all of those games have been at the first-class venues. 

“Even just the familiarity of going into the changing rooms, being used to the surroundings, even just the good coffee shops and restaurants around the venues.” 

Scotland sit two places below Ireland in the rankings and are the lowest-ranked side in Group B, which also includes hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. 

However, Bryce believes they are not just here to make up the numbers at a World Cup that is as close to home as they can get. 

She added: “It is important to acknowledge the change in expectations, and with that comes a change in feeling and pressure on yourself. 

“We have had recent success against Ireland, but everyone has got such high quality within their teams that you have kind of got to focus on yourself and your own processes.  

“You turn up and play the way that you want to play and know that you have done everything that you want to do. T20 can be so up and down, and one or two people on a day can make a big difference, so we’ll be focussing on ourselves.” 

ENDS