England v Scotland, Women’s T20 World Cup – Headingley, Leeds
Scotland won the toss and, after a quick chat in the middle, chose to field under cloud-free skies in Leeds. It feels like a good day to chase; that was the simple thinking, said skipper Kathryn Bryce a moment after the coin came down.
England have had to shuffle. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf tightened again during the Ireland game in Southampton and the medical team have kept her off her feet since. Sophia Dunkley comes straight in at No. 3 for her first outing of the tournament, while off-spinner Charlie Dean – who led the side against New Zealand and India earlier in the year – takes the armband once more.
Bryce admitted Scotland are nursing “a couple of niggles”, so two switches there as well. Keeper-batter Ailsa Lister, impressive with 33 from 25 balls against West Indies, sits out; Pippa Sproul takes her place. Left-arm seamer Rachel Slater, tight and tidy in that same match, makes way for right-armer Hannah Rainey.
The pitch is fresh, the outfield quick. Runs should come if batters settle, though the surface looked a touch green when the covers came off. Weather? Warm, still, hardly a puff of wind – very un-Headingley, some would say.
Teams
Scotland: Darcey Carter, Katherine Fraser, Kathryn Bryce (capt), Sarah Bryce (wk), Megan McColl, Priyanaz Chatterji, Pippa Sproul, Kirstie Gordon, Chloe Abel, Hannah Rainey, Gabriella Fontenla.
England: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean (capt), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
First ball was scheduled for 3 pm.
