Bangladesh beat Scotland to begin women’s T20 World Cup
Bangladesh have finally ended a 16-match, decade-long losing streak in T20 World Cup matches as they launched the 2024 edition in the UAE with a laboured 16-run victory over Scotland.
Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 49 was not enough to get Scotland over the line as there was to be no fairytale debut in the competition in baking conditions at Sharjah on Thursday.
For Bangladesh, though, there was nothing but delight as they achieved a landmark victory in the tournament they were originally going to host.
The hosting rights were stripped from the country in August because of uncertainty after nationwide protests toppled the government. The UAE agreed on short notice to stage the ninth edition for the first time.
Scotland were left to chase 120 for victory but opener Bryce, battling exhaustion in the heat having earlier kept wicket, was given little support as they could only make 7-103 in their 20 overs.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat as they looked for a first win in the competition since 2014, but they were only able to amass 7-119 from their full allocation, hardly taking advantage of the Scots dropping three catches in their group B opener.
Saskia Horley starred with the ball for the Scots, taking a career-best 3-13 from her two overs at the end of the innings, removing Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni and skipper Nigar Sultana, whose run-a-ball contribution of 18 was bettered only by opener Shathi Rani’s 29 and 36 from No.3 Sobhana Mostary.
The Scots, who had lost each of their four previous T20 internationals against Bangladesh, got off to a mixed start with opener Horley and skipper Kathryn Bryce departing cheaply by the time the score had reached 31.
Ailsa Lister, who had been dropped in the deep on five, failed to make the most of her escape when she holed out having added just six more, and Scotland faltered when Priyanaz Chatterji was needlessly run out for five with the score on 65.
Scotland fell further off the pace as the screw tightened, and Nahida Akter all but sealed the win when she had Katherine Fraser caught by Rabeya Khan for two, in the process becoming the first woman from Bangladesh to take 100 T20 wickets.
In the second game of the day at the same venue, Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka were taking on Pakistan.
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