In a thrilling opener at the Women’s T20 World Cup, Scotland faced a 16-run defeat against Bangladesh, marking their first-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament. Set a target of 120 runs on a slow pitch with high humidity in Sharjah, Scotland struggled to find their rhythm, finishing their innings at 103 for 7.
Opener Sarah Bryce emerged as Scotland’s standout performer, scoring an impressive 49 not out, but lacked adequate support as the middle order faltered under pressure. The team also faced early jitters in the field, dropping three crucial catches while managing to restrict Bangladesh to 119 for 7.
Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary was the top scorer with 36 runs, leading her team as they batted first in unfamiliar conditions, reflecting the limited opportunities for women’s cricket in the United Arab Emirates. The pitch proved challenging, particularly against spin bowling, with all-rounder Saskia Horley claiming three late wickets to prevent Bangladesh from scoring at a run-a-ball rate.
The match saw Scotland’s experienced players, including captain Kathryn Bryce, struggle against Bangladesh’s varied bowling attack. Kathryn was dismissed by seamer Marufa Akter after contributing just 11 runs. Following her departure at the end of the six-over powerplay, Scotland found it increasingly difficult to recover, with Ailsa Lister being the only other batter to reach double figures.
This victory marks Bangladesh’s first T20 World Cup win since 2014 and their first triumph away from home. Bangladesh will face England next on Saturday, while Scotland gears up for a match against the West Indies the following day.
The game served as a reminder of the growing competitiveness in women’s cricket, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
