Local cricketer helps Scotland to wins over the Netherlands, Italy and France

A HUNTLY cricketer has helped Scotland to wins over Italy, France and the Netherlands as they reached the global qualifiers for next year's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

A player-of-the-match showing from Ailsa Lister (19) fired Scotland to victory in their opening ICC T20 World Cup qualifier against Italy, which took place in the Spanish city of Almeria on Wednesday, August 6.

Lister, a regular at international level, opened the batting and hit an unbeaten 54 from just 28 balls as she hit 10 boundaries en route to helping Scotland secure a nine-wicket win with 69 balls to spare.

The product of Huntly Cricket Club was bowled for a duck against the Netherlands in a defeat on Thursday, and never had the opportunity to bat in a convincing win over France the following day.

In the fourth game, again against Italy, Lister hit 26 from 11 balls, which she followed up with 7 from 5 balls as Scotland beat the Netherlands to reach the global qualifying event, containing 10 countries.

Lister finished the qualifiers in style against France, setting a career-best score with the bat en route to helping her country win by 155 runs.

She reached her half century from just 27 deliveries, hitting multiple sixes, and ended up with a personal best of 68 from 36 balls.

At the global qualifiers, two places will be up for grabs in the T20 World Cup, to be held in Bangladesh next year.

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