Cricket: Scotland’s World Cup hopes over as Ireland edge thriller

Captain Kathryn Bryce’s stunning unbeaten century and three wickets were still not enough to keep Scotland’s World Cup hopes alive as Ireland snatched a one-wicket win with the final ball in Lahore.

The Scots needed to win by a big margin, coupled with defeat for Bangladesh against Pakistan on Saturday, to have a chance of finishing second in the qualifier tournament, while Ireland were already out of the running.

And despite a shaky start at 19-3, Bryce took control with a personal best knock of 131 to help Scotland to 268, their highest ever ODI score, as they looked good for victory.

However, Ireland came roaring back to set up an extremely tense final over during which Bryce was hit for four, took her third wicket, before consecutive leg byes in the final two balls gave Ireland the two runs they needed for victory.

Ailsa Lister shared a partnership of 62 with Bryce before falling for 27 from 28 balls in the 20th over of Scotland’s impressive innings.

The skipper continued with support from Megan McCall (15), Katherine Fraser (33) and Priyanaz Chatterji (26).

And Rachel Slater arrived at the crease for the final five overs, finishing not out on 13 from 11 balls as Bryce completed an incredible innings with her 14th four from the last delivery, to go with her two sixes.

Ireland captain Gaby Lewis started the resistance with the bat, putting on 109 for the first wicket with fellow opener Sarah Forbes, but it was Laura Delany’s crucial unbeaten 57 which got them over the line.

After losing Leah Paul (11), Louise Little (one), and Sophie McMahon (three) in little over four overs, Delany hung in and formed a crucial eighth-wicket stand with Jane Maguire, with the pair scoring 50 from 36 balls.

When Maguire was caught off the bowling of Slater just before the 49th over, it appeared as if the momentum had swung Scotland’s way again, as it did when Bryce bowled Ava Canning the ball after being hit for four in the final over.

But with two deliveries left, Cara Murray and Delany both profited from leg byes to break Scotland’s hearts and end their hopes of playing at the World Cup in India in the autumn.

They finish their campaign with two wins from five games, as do Ireland, behind top two Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The West Indies have an outside chance of leapfrogging Bangladesh with a big win over Thailand, assuming Pakistan win.