Returning Gordon is tonic Scotland need ahead of T20 World Cup

A returning Kirstie Gordon took 3/27 as Scotland cruised past the Netherlands in their first home game since 2022, winning by nine wickets.

On a sunny day at Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh, Kirstie Gordon stood shoulder to shoulder with her teammates in a Scotland shirt, belting out Flower of Scotland; it just felt right. With injury preventing a return for the global qualifiers, Gordon’s homecoming was perhaps fittingly in sync with Scotland’s first match on home turf since 2022.

“It's been amazing. Even just looking around now, there's so many family and friends here,” Gordon said post-match. “I know it's a special day for everyone to get some cricket in Scotland so for me, a special day to be back and to come back with a win and such a clinical performance as well is super pleasing.”

It was the first of a number of games in Edinburgh as part of a pre-World Cup tri series, involving the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Scotland.

Gordon’s return is a rare situation which tells the story of professionalism and development of women’s cricket in England and Scotland over the last few years. It’s also one that feels like a bit of a reunion.

“Kathryn and Sarah [Bryce] are two my best mates, we've known each other for so long and so there was definitely a bit of emotion and nerves, excitement, etc, before the start of the day, but also a sense of familiarity with them two who I’ve played so much of my cricket with outside of the national colours,” she said.

“I hope that I've connected well with the group in the last few days and I’m trying to bring my own energy to that as well and add my own value as well.”

While there was a familiar face back, there were also some new names in the mix with 17-year-old Gabriella Fontenla and 19-year-old Rosalie Lawrence making their IT20 debuts for Scotland and the Netherlands respectively.

“Our bench was really young today as well, so there's lots of young players coming through. We've got great depth now, which is something that we've never really had before as well,” Gordon explained.

 “I thought Gabby was outstanding today on debut. I think she's a little bit disappointed, but I told her that this game will take a lot more from you than it will give you so to be really pleased with herself today, and hopefully she'll reflect on it fondly.”

The Netherlands’ innings was dominated by a series of soft dismissals, Heather Siegers departure perhaps the most frustrating blow. Siegers, who came out of a work-related retirement to play in the qualifiers back in January, smashed 32 from 16, opening the batting.

It was also perhaps appropriate that it was Kirstie Gordon who took the first wicket of the match, Phebe Molkenboer departing prematurely as Gordon struck in her first over.

Steading the ship after falling five wickets down, Robine Rijke and Frédérique Overdijk proved crucial, seeing out the middle overs and holding a 53-run partnership.

Finishing 141/8, it already felt a below par total with clinical bowling required to tear through a powerful Scottish batting line up.

The realities of the disparities however are brutal. Isabel van der Woning was pummelled for 29 from her first over, bowling to Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser, two players who have had ample opportunities at Tier 1 counties this season.

Of course, anyone can have a bad over and it happens to the best however, the Netherlands have spent the past few weeks playing matches between themselves, involving a wider pool of players in the Netherlands. Most of the Scotland team have been competing and training alongside some of England’s strongest international and domestic players in county cricket.

Input at a domestic level is vital and its value is clear, as demonstrated by this strengthening Scotland side.

The likes of Babette de Leede and Phebe Molkenboer have had opportunities in South African domestic cricket over the winter, but Sanya Khurana was the sole player in the XI currently playing English domestic cricket.

Fraser and Carter’s dominant 100 run partnership, from just 66 balls, set Scotland up for an easy nine wicket victory with 31 deliveries to spare. It’s encouraging for Scotland that two of their youth ensured such a confident win.

“I think the Netherlands have probably been that niggly team over the years. That's really pleasing to win so comprehensively as well. I think the girls will take a lot of confidence from that,” Gordon reflected.

This tri series is ultimately the prequel for the T20 Women’s World Cup, hosted South of the border, where Scotland will be one of four European sides represented.

“We'll probably go in as, the, if not one of the lowest ranked sides, having come through qualifying, but we really believe we can cause an upset of this World Cup. I think there's so much belief in the group, and it's not false belief, its genuine belief,” Kirstie added.

“We look at our group and think, there's no reason why we can't win multiple games. I think that's the main ambition is to go there, put on a good performance, because I think there'll be a lot of Scotland fans in the stands and do ourselves proud.”