Openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on an unbeaten century partnership as England hammered debutants Scotland by 10 wickets at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.
England restricted Scotland to 109-6 in 20 overs after left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone returned figures of 2-13 in a disciplined bowling attack in Sharjah.
England romped home with 10 overs to spare as Bouchier hit 62 off 34 deliveries, earning herself player of the match honours as her team closed in on a semi-final spot.
A third successive win sent England top of Group B ahead of South Africa, who have three wins out of four, and the West Indies.
England face the West Indies tomorrow in Dubai to decide the two semi-finalists from the group. “Just try and win, exactly the same way we have approached (the tournament so far),” skipper Heather Knight said of their last group game against the West Indies.
“You want to keep winning, keep that momentum and we want to go again, get some momentum and make it to the semis.”
Scotland, who ended winless after qualifying for the tournament for the first time, and Bangladesh had already bowed out of the 10-team competition.
“Pretty tough tournament in general but a massive honour to be here and to be leading the team out in a tournament like this,” skipper Kathryn Bryce said. “Only learnings to be taken from here.”
Australia beat India to reach T20 World Cup last-fourHolders Australia overcame the absence of skipper Alyssa Healy to edge India in a tense nine-run win on Sunday that locked up a semi-final spot in the Women’s T20 World Cup. Tahila McGrath led six-time winners Australia in Sharjah after Healy dropped out with a foot injury suffered batting in a victory over Pakistan on Friday.
Healy’s replacement Grace Harris top-scored with 40 and McGrath hit 32 as Australia posted 151-8 after electing to bat first.
In reply, India finished on 142-9 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hitting an unbeaten 54 as she put on a fourth-wicket stand of 63 with Deepti Sharma, who made 29, and took the fight to the final over.
India needed 14 off the last six balls, but lost four wickets as Australian bowler Annabel Sutherland gave away four runs.
The victory extended Australia’s winning streak to 15 in the tournament.
They officially qualified for their ninth straight semi-final of the tournament when India were 74-3 in 10.4 overs of their chase. India need arch-rivals Pakistan to win their final group match against New Zealand. If New Zealand win, they will take second place in Group A and reach the semis. A Pakistan win would leave them, India and the Kiwis all on four points and net run-rate would decide who advances.

BRIEF SCORES
Scotland 109-6 in 20 overs (Kathryn Bryce 33, Sarah Bryce 27; Sophie Ecclestone 2-13) v England 113-0 in 10 overs (Maia Bouchier 62 not out, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 51 not out)
Result: England won by 10 wickets
Player of the Match: Maia Bouchier (ENG)
Toss: Scotland

BRIEF SCORES
Australia 151-8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40, Tahlia McGrath 32; Ellyse Perry 32; Renuka Singh 2-24, Deepti Sharma 2-28) v India 142-9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54 not out, Deepti Sharma 29; Annabel Sutherland 2-22, Sophie Molineux 2-32)
Result: Australia won by nine runs
Toss: Australia