Bangladesh 119 for 7 (Mostary 36, Rani 29; Horley 3-13) defeated Scotland 103 for 7 (Sarah Bryce 49*, Moni 2-15) by 16 runs
Bangladesh ended a 16-match, decade-long losing streak in T20 World Cups with a hard-fought 16-run victory over Scotland in their Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 opener. This win, their first away from home in the tournament, was both significant and challenging.
The match, held in Sharjah, was tough for Scotland, making their World Cup debut. They managed only five of the 15 boundaries hit in the game.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, in her 100th T20I, chose to bat first after winning the toss. While the strategy was sound due to the fresh Sharjah pitch and hot conditions (38°C), execution proved tricky. Shathi Rani’s 29 and Sobhana Mostary’s 36, both career-bests, helped Bangladesh post 119 for 9, though they lost six wickets for just 50 runs in 49 balls. Offspinner Saskia Horley led Scotland’s bowling with figures of 3 for 13.
Scotland struggled to chase the run-a-ball target, with Kathryn Bryce dismissed early. Ritu Moni’s economical spell (2 for 15) kept Scotland in check, leaving them needing 38 runs in the final three overs. Sarah Bryce, the standout for Scotland, remained unbeaten on 49 but had multiple lives, with dropped chances. Her struggles to find boundaries (just one in 52 balls) highlighted Scotland’s difficulty, as they ultimately fell 16 runs short.
Rabeya Khan’s crucial catch secured Nahida Akter’s 100th T20I wicket, making her the second-youngest to reach the milestone, behind England’s Sophie Ecclestone. Despite Bryce’s resilience, Bangladesh claimed a long-awaited victory.
