Ireland’s tour of Scotland gets underway on the 16th of October, 2023, with the first of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a couple of Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) to follow. The series opener is slated for the 17th of October, 2023, at 2:15 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), and will take place at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground in Almeria.
Squads:
Scotland – Kathryn Bryce (C), Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Maryam Faisal, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Niamh Robertson-Jack, Nayma Sheikh, Ellen Watson
Ireland – Laura Delany (C), Ava Canning, Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Joanna Loughran, Sophie MacMahon, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell
Players to watch out:
Sarah Bryce
With Scotland regaining ODI status in May 2022, it will be a maiden appearance for the 21-year-old keeper-batter who averages 30.58 in T20I cricket. Sarah has amassed 1101 runs, with a highest score of 67, from 41 T20I innings. Having featured in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (RHF), Sarah has gained One-Day experience, and in the ’23 season, she scored 241 runs from 13 outings.
Abtaha Maqsood
The 24-year-old leg-spinner will also make her debut in the series opener. In T20Is, she has taken 44 wickets from 42 innings with an economy rate of 5.26. Abtaha in the ’23 RHFT season played only 5 games but made an impression scalping 9 wickets with an economy rate of 4.82, including her best figures of 5/30.
Gaby Lewis
The 22-year-old all-rounder has accumulated 1014 runs from 35 ODIs and has also picked up 10 wickets in 16 bowling appearances. Gaby has recorded 7 half-centuries and would aim at a three-digit score this series, especially after being stranded on 96* in the 3rd ODI against West Indies and only managed scores of 37 and 35 against Australia.
Arlene Kelly
The 29-year-old bowling all-rounder, in 12 ODIs, has bagged 8 wickets and been handy with the bat, chipping in with 125 runs from 10 outings. Lately, Arlene has excelled with the ball in the shortest format. It remains to be seen if she can translate her wicket-taking ability to ODI cricket, especially after a couple of wicketless outings in her recent matches, notably against Australia.
Pitch:
As both spinners and pacers have a significant impact on the game, batters face difficulties in scoring runs. The bowling-friendly conditions at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground, Almeria, result in low-scoring matches, reflected in a modest average score.
Weather:
The conditions at Desert Springs Cricket Ground, Almeria, are forecasted to be pleasant for the game, despite cloudy skies as the chances of rain are minimal. The temperature is expected to be around 26°C, with light winds and humidity at 61%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Sarah Bryce, Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Kathryn Bryce, Orla Prendergast, Darcey Carter, Laura Delany, Arlene Kelly, Abtaha Maqsood, Cara Murray
Match details:
Date – October 17, 2023
Time – 2:15 PM IST
Venue – Desert Springs Cricket Ground, Almeria
Broadcast – Access live scores for all the games of the series on the FanCode app and website.