Gaby Lewis did her best to put on a brave face after Ireland opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a disappointing loss to Scotland on Saturday but there was no hiding the significance of the 40-run defeat at Old Trafford.

From having an outside chance of challenging for one of the two semi-final places from Group 2  — having already beaten the West Indies this month, who in turn beat New Zealand in their opener — the Girls in Green are now realistically only in the hunt for consolation prizes. 

“It’s a long tournament and there are still teams to play that we feel we can really put up a good fight against,” the Ireland skipper said, admitting as much, before her squad decamped to Southampton for tomorrow evening’s (TUES) clash with England. 

Lewis conceded that Ireland lost control in the middle overs of the Scotland innings of 161-5 and despite finishing strongly, with Ava Canning taking 3-27, they failed to get to grips with a stiff target and were bowled out for 121.

“They played really well and hats off to them,” Lewis said. “We had a great finish with the ball, and the momentum was with us. Maybe if we’d had a better powerplay... It’s hard to put a finger on. 

“We need to go back to the drawing board and hopefully improve.”

Scotland are ranked below Ireland in T20 cricket, but in skipper Kathryn Bryce they have an all-rounder who has haunted Lewis’s side in recent years — just as Hayley Matthews has for the West Indies — and she was to the fore again on Saturday, top-scoring with 60 and claiming 2-19.

Ireland’s tournament is unlikely to get going against a very strong England side but Lewis will have New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in her sights in their remaining Group 2 games.