Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Bangladesh claimed their first win at an ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup since 2014 as they defeated debutants Scotland by 16 runs.
The original hosts of the tournament had to sweat it out, but they were determined to strike a good impression after the tournament had to be shifted away from their home fans due to a sudden change of government amid political upheaval in the subcontinental nation.
Saskia Horley took three late wickets to stifle Bangladesh who had been led by Sobhana Mostary as she produced her highest international score of 36, as they made 119 for seven. Chasing 120, Scotland repeatedly went from comfort to chaos with Sarah Bryce unable to build partnerships as Bangladesh closed out a historic triumph. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Bangladesh produced their highest first-wicket score at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, making 26.
Rachel Slater had the honour of bowling Scotland’s first ball at a World Cup but it was the captain Kathryn Bryce who got the first wicket, with Katherine Fraser taking the catch to dismiss Murshida Khatun for 12. It meant that Slater’s blushes were spared having dropped Murshida three balls earlier. Sobhana hit her second boundary courtesy of the ball being parried to the boundary before drinks under a beaming Sharjah sun marked a welcome break for Scotland to refocus. However, it was opener Shathi Rani who emerged from the drinks break with intent, including one fine strike for four. Fraser had the last laugh as she dismissed Shathi for 29 from 32 balls with Bangladesh reduced to 68 for two with eight overs remaining. From there, Scotland took wickets at regular intervals to halt Bangladesh as they looked to beat their highest World Cup score of 126.
After Sobhana’s departure for 36, the ever-dependable Nigar Sultana Joty was the calm in the middle, making a run-a-ball 18 before becoming the final of Horley’s three wickets as she delivered best figures of three for 13. In reply to 119, Horley crunched Scotland’s first runs at a World Cup, hitting a four off the fourth ball of their chase before she was stumped for eight.
The Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah, started slowly before Kathryn hit two fours in three balls to keep Scotland in the hunt as the asking rate rose to close to needing a run a ball. Theirs was an innings of peaks and troughs, Kathryn was clean bowled by Marufa Akter before Scotland went 17 balls without a boundary.
Sarah Bryce and Priyanaz Chatterji then found a nice rhythm, taking 10 runs off youngster Shorna Akter, before six came from the 12th over to see Scotland to 65 runs, just three behind where Bangladesh were at the same stage.
Disaster soon struck again when Chatterji was run out for five having not heard Bryce’s call and it was then open season for Bangladesh as Darcey Carter’s big heave to long-on was caught acrobatically by Fahima Khatun, who danced in celebration. The smiles stayed bright on the Bangladesh players’ faces as they squeezed Scotland out of the contest. Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 49 was in vain as Nahida Akter became the first Bangladesh woman to take 100 T20I wickets, taking the seventh and final wicket as Scotland fell 16 runs short.
Action continues on Friday in Dubai with South Africa playing the West Indies in an afternoon Group B match while popular team India open their campaign against New Zealand in a Group A match later. It will be a quick turnaround for India who then take on Pakistan on Sunday afternoon.
