Bowlers give Bangladesh triumphant start to Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

SHARJAH: Sobhana Mostary’s anchoring 36-run knock, followed by a combined bowling effort led Bangladesh to edge past Scotland in the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Set to chase 120, Scotland’s batting unit struggled against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack and could accumulate 103/7 in the allotted 20 overs despite Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 49-run knock.

Bryce lamented subtle support from the other end as none of her teammates could put up a fight against Bangladesh’s bowling with only Kathryn Bryce and Ailsa Lister, 11 each, managing to amass double figures.

The wicketkeeper batter remained stranded on an unbeaten 49 off 52 deliveries with the help of a boundary.

Ritu Moni led the bowling charge for Sri Lanka with two wickets, while Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter and Marufa Akter shared four wickets between them.

Bangladesh opted to bat first but failed to get the desired start as Murshida Khatun departed after scoring 12 runs in the fifth over.

Shathi Rani and Sobhana Mostary then stitched a 42-run partnership for the second wicket to push the team’s total to 68. Katherine Fraser provided the breakthrough when she dismissed Rani, who scored 29 off 32.

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Meanwhile, Mostary fell prey to Olivia Bell, after top-scoring for Bangladesh with a scratchy 36-run knock from 38 balls.

Horley further dented Bangladesh’s progress with a double-wicket over, dismissing Shorna Akter (5) and Ritu Moni (5).

Skipper Nigar Sultana (18) and Fahima Khatun helped push the total to 118 before the former also fell to Horley off the penultimate ball of the innings. Fahima Khatun remained unbeaten on 10 as Bangladesh managed 119-7 in their allocated 20 overs.

For Scotland, Saskia Horley starred with the figures of 3-13, while Bell, Fraser and Kathryn Bryce bagged one wicket each.

The 16-run victory lifted Bangladesh to the top of Group B of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 while Sri Lanka succumbed to the bottom.

PLAYING XIs

Bangladesh: Shathi Rani, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), Taj Nehar, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter.

Scotland XI: Saskia Horley, Sarah Bryce (wk), Kathryn Bryce (capt), Alisa Lister, Priyanaz Chatterji, Darcey Carter, Lorna Jack-Brown, Katherine Fraser, Rachel Slater, Abtaha Maqsood, Olivia Bell.

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