Bangladesh kicked off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in style as bowlers delivered a stellar performance, restricting Scotland to 103 for seven and clinching a 16-run victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
This triumph also ended a 16-match winless streak in T20 World Cups for the Tigresses, a drought that began after their victory against Ireland in Sylhet in 2014. Despite participating in five T20 World Cup tournaments, Bangladesh's women had only managed to secure victories in two matches. They had been winless in the last four World Cups. Determined to end this dry spell, Bangladesh faced debutants Scotland in the opening match of the World Cup. Although their batting total was modest at 119 runs, the bowlers proved it sufficient, delivering another World Cup win for the Tigresses after 10 years.
Among the notable performances, pacer Ritu Moni led the charge with two wickets, while four other bowlers each claimed a wicket, effectively restricting Scotland to 103 for seven after Bangladesh posted a total of 119 for seven. Sobhana Mostary was the top scorer with a composed 36 off 38 balls. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, marking her 100th international match – a first for any Bangladeshi woman cricketer – contributed a steady run-a-ball 18. Ritu was elected as Player of the Match for her splendid bowling feat.
In their chase, the Scottish women managed to score 103 for seven in the allotted overs. Thus, the representatives of the red and green began the ninth edition of the Women's T20 World Cup with a 16-run victory. This joy could have been doubled for Jotyand Nahida's team. Despite being the host, the tournament was relocated from Bangladesh to the UAE due to the political upheaval and subsequent security concerns.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Bangladesh's middle-order failed to build on a solid start from the openers, resulting in a total of 119 for seven in their Women's T20 World Cup opener against Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Openers Shathi Rani and Murshida Khatun began with positive intent, but disciplined bowling from Scotland kept the scoring rate close to six runs per over in the first four overs. This pressure paid off when Khatun mistimed a lofted shot off Kathryn Bryce, giving Scotland their first wicket in the fifth over.
No. 3 batter Sobhana Mostary continued in the same vein as the openers, rebuilding the innings with Rani. At the halfway mark, Bangladesh were 55 for one, scoring at nearly 5.5 runs per over. However, an attempt to accelerate the scoring led to Rani's dismissal, caught in the deep off Fraser. Shortly after, Taj Nehar was run out following a mix-up with Mostary.
Late breakthroughs from Olivia Bell and Saskia Horley gave Scotland the upper hand in the death overs. Nevertheless, Bangladesh managed to post 119 for seven – their third-highest total in Women's T20 World Cups – thanks to a quickfire 10* off 5 balls from Fahima Khatun and a composed 18 from skipper Nigar Sultana Joty. Horley finished with career-best figures of 3/13.
