Scotland Women survived a serious scare to defeat Tanzania Women by 5 runs in one of the most gripping contests of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2025 in Bangkok. The match had momentum swings in both innings, standout individual performances, and a tense finish that kept both teams on edge until the final ball.
Batting first, Scotland posted a competitive 153 for 5, built almost entirely around a superb innings from Darcey Carter. The young all-rounder delivered a commanding unbeaten 76 off 62 balls, striking nine fours and a six while holding the innings together from the early overs right to the close. Carter’s knock showed maturity beyond her years — she rotated the strike early, chose the right moments to accelerate, and ensured Scotland had a strong anchor throughout. Ellen Watson supported her with a steady 23 off 31 balls, while Priyanaz Chatterji injected late momentum with a quickfire 19 off 11. Scotland’s batters made smart use of the gaps, ran aggressively, and capitalised on loose deliveries to push their total beyond the 150 mark — a strong score on this ground.
Tanzania began their chase with intent. Saum Mtae struck 27, giving her side the early tempo they needed. Fatuma Kibasu, one of Tanzania’s most experienced players, added 28 off 28, stabilising the innings and keeping them near the required rate. As the match progressed, Hudaa Omary emerged as the backbone of the chase, compiling an unbeaten 38 from 34 balls. She played with patience and clarity, steering the innings deep and keeping Tanzania in the hunt. Jenipher Kimaro added an important burst of energy with 23 off 16 deliveries, taking on Scotland’s bowlers and forcing them under pressure.
Yet, Scotland refused to break. Their bowlers didn’t have an easy time, but they stuck to their plans and executed when it mattered most. Darcey Carter, already the star with the bat, turned the game again with the ball. Her left-arm spin produced crucial wickets at the perfect moments, and she finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 23. Her ability to read the batters, vary her flight, and attack the stumps swung the momentum sharply back towards Scotland in the middle overs.
Scotland’s supporting bowlers also held their nerve. Rachel Slater, Chloe Abel, Niamh Robertson-Jack, and Hannah Rainey all bowled tight overs under pressure, especially as Tanzania entered the final stretch needing manageable runs with wickets in hand. The decisive moment came when Kimaro was run out during a crucial phase, halting Tanzania’s charge and allowing Scotland to tighten the screws. The final overs were tense, but Scotland’s death bowling — especially in the last over — prevented Tanzania from finding the boundaries they desperately needed.
Tanzania finished on 148 for 8, falling just five runs short despite a brave and well-structured chase. Their top and middle order showed real quality, but the inability to finish strongly and Scotland’s disciplined bowling under pressure proved the difference.
For Scotland, the victory reinforces their status as one of the stronger contenders in the tournament. Darcey Carter’s all-round performance — a match-winning fifty and three pivotal wickets — was the defining story of the game and a clear signal of her rising influence in this Scottish lineup.
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