In the maiden match for Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh has won its very first match at a Women’s T20 World Cup since 2014, defeating Scotland.
The de facto hosts for the tournament gave their campaign a good start. However, team Scotland suffered from lack of support on many fronts, resulting in their loss in the championship’s first match.
The toss was won by Bangladesh and they chose to bat first.
Openers Shathi Rani and Murshida Khatun were off to a good start but Scotland’s bowling kept the run rate to six in the first four overs. In the fifth over, Murshida (12 from 14) mistimed a shot, sending the ball down to Kathryn Bryce giving Scotland their maiden wicket.
Sobhana Mostary came in at number three and was building a decent partnership with Shathi. But she was caught in the deep end, getting out at 29 from 32 balls. Next, Taj Nehar was run out by at duck.
Then Sobhana (36 from 39) and skipper Nigar Sultana (18 from 18) played a steady game and brought the total up in the middle overs.
But Olivia Bell and Saskia Horley helped Scotland take more wickets in the death overs and compelled Bangladesh to end their innings at 119/7.
In the second innings, team Bangladesh’s bowlers ransacked Scotland’s top order with the Scots looking to beat Bangladesh’s 119/7.
The first wicket was taken by Fahima Khatun when she brought Saskia Horley (8 off 12) down the track to set up a stumping for Nigar Sultana.
Team Scotland saw a decent partnership building between the Bryce sisters but it was nipped in the bud by Marufa Akter who took Kathryn Bruce’s wicket (11 from 11) in the powerplay’s last over.
Next Ailsa Lister’s innings was cut short by a catch taken by Rabeya Khan off Ritu Moni for 11 off 12. Team Scotland was at 49/3 at the mid-point in the second innings.
Scotland failed to increase the run rate and kept losing wickets against Bangladesh’s bowling performance.
Sarah Bryce put up a valiant effort for Scotland by scoring 49 off 52 balls and remained unbeaten till the end. However, with no other batter to support her, the Scots eventually folded, finishing on 103/7.
