New Zealand survived a scare in the field and at the crease to beat Scotland and keep themselves alive at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. After putting Scotland in to bat and conceding 51 runs in the first seven overs, they restricted Scotland to a gettable 131 for 7, and with net run-rate considerations in mind, would have wanted to polish off the total quickly.

But Scotland had other ideas. They plucked three New Zealand wickets in the powerplay, and could sniff their second win of the campaign. But New Zealand’s experience shone through. Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday shared a fourth-wicket stand of 101, and Sharp went on to score a career-best 62 as New Zealand reached the target in the 19th over. As a result, Scotland were eliminated from semi-final contention.

The result means their net run rate has moved into positive territory, and they will remain in the hunt for a semi-final spot. New Zealand, though, need to beat England at the weekend and hope other results go their way.

Other than the result going their way, New Zealand also celebrated Lea Tahuhu’s 100th T20I wicket, as she made her first appearance of the tournament. Scotland had a milestone of their own to applaud. Darcey Carter scored her second half-century at the tournament and has become its leading run-scorer, ahead of Smriti Mandhana, though she has played one more innings.

After a tough start to their campaign, New Zealand have made it clear there’s no point crying over spilt milk. But there will be some frustration over the number of spilled chances. They dropped ten catches in their first three matches, and after putting Scotland in to bat and creating an early chance, put one down. Bree Illing, arguably one of the most impressive seamers of the tournament, got an inside edge off Katherine Fraser, who was yet to score. But Isabella Gaze, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, fluffed a simple chance.

Fraser could not find fluency throughout her innings, and was eventually caught at extra cover for 7. So the damage done was limited at an individual level but costly in the partnership. Scotland’s opening pair put on 51 in seven overs, with Carter contributing 41 off those runs.

After Fraser was dismissed, New Zealand pulled Scotland back. Kathryn Bryce was caught at deep-backward square leg off a googly from Melie Kerr to leave them 58 for 2 after nine overs. But the fielding virus soon returned. Carter, denied strike through the middle overs, sliced Melie to backward point when on 47, bu Nensi Patel could not hold on to a regulation chance.

New Zealand starved Carter of the strike – she slowed down from 35 off 18 balls to 54 in 39 – but with Sarah Bryce on the charge with 25 off 21 deliveries, New Zealand called for Sophie Devine’s intervention in the 15th over. She answered the call immediately, and had Sarah pinned on the pad with her first ball as she played all around a straight one.

Four balls later, Ailsa Lister sent Devine straight to Melie at long-on to give her a second wicket and New Zealand a position to get themselves back in the game. In the next over, Nensi bowled Megan McColl before the offspinner combined with Devine to apply the squeeze.

Scotland scored just 25 runs during the four overs which they bowled in tandem, before Melie brought herself on to bowl the penultimate over. Priyanaz Chatterji tried to sweep her four times without success, and was eventually out lbw on the fourth attempt. Then, it was a Kerr double act as Pippa Sproul chipped Melie to Jess Kerr at mid-off to leave Scotland at 121 for 7. Between them, Melie and Nensi bowled eight overs for 42 runs and took four wickets. Carter then helped Scotland score ten runs off the last over, finishing unbeaten on 72.

With half an eye on the need to knock off the total quickly and improve their net run rate, New Zealand were frustrated early, when only three runs came off the first over, bowled by Kirstie Gordon. But defending only 131, Scotland were off to a perfect start when they removed Melie, who promoted herself to open the batting, Gaze and Devine in the powerplay.

Kathyn Bryce struck twice in her first two overs: first, when Melie chipped her to mid-on, and then when Gaze tried to clear mid-on but could only find the fielder. Rachel Slater then bowled a beauty that nipped back into Devine and snuck through the gap between bat and pad to bowl her. New Zealand were 26 for 3 in the sixth over, and a massive upset was on the cards.

Scores:
New Zealand Women 132 for 4 in 18.2 overs (Isabella Gaze 16, Izzy Sharp 62, Brooke Halliday 41*;  Kathryn Bryce 2-13, Rachel Slater 2-22) beat Scotland Women  131 for 7 in 20 overs (Darcey Carter 72*, Sarah Bryce 25, Priyansz Chatterji 12; Lea Tahuhu 1-19, Nensi Patel 1-25, Melie  Kerr 3-17, Sophie Devine 2-19) by six wickets

[Cricinfo]