Bangladesh started their Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 16-run victory over Scotland, marking their first win in a T20 World Cup in a decade and only their third overall. Defending a modest total of 119 for 7, Bangladesh restricted Scotland to 103 for 7 in a game marked by dropped catches and poor running between the wickets.
Captain Nigar Sultana, celebrating her 100th T20I, contributed 18 runs at a run-a-ball pace. Shobhana Mostary top-scored with 36 from 38 balls, while opener Shathi Rani chipped in with 29. Although Bangladesh’s total seemed within Scotland’s reach, Saskia Horley’s impressive 3 for 13 from two overs and Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 49 weren’t enough to pull off an upset on the vast dimensions of Sharjah Stadium.
The win, which came in the searing heat of Sharjah, was emotionally significant for Bangladesh. Sultana acknowledged the initial disappointment of not playing in front of a home crowd, after the tournament was moved from Bangladesh due to civil unrest. However, she expressed gratitude for the support in the UAE. “It was heartbreaking not to play at home, but the support here has been fantastic,” Sultana said.
Though elated with the win, Sultana stressed the need to improve their fielding ahead of their next match against England, noting several dropped chances. Despite the loss, Horley remained positive about Scotland’s performance, stating, “We gave it a really good shot, and we were in the contest the whole time.”
Bangladesh’s victory boosts their confidence for the rest of the tournament, though they admit they need to improve, especially in the field.
Leave a Reply