Bangladesh defeat Scotland to register their first-ever victory in an ICC Women's T20 World Cup game since 2014

Bangladesh defeated Scotland by 16 runs in the opening game of the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 3. This was their first-ever victory in a Women's T20 World Cup game since 2014.

Their last win came when they hosted the 2014 edition of the tournament where they overcame the Irish challenge by registering a seventeen-run victory in the ninth-place playoff fixture in Sylhet.

Despite losing the first three group games against the West Indies, England and India, the hosts inflicted a three-run loss on Sri Lanka in their final group clash in 2014.

A winning start to Bangladesh's 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign

Bangladesh was supposed to host this year's Women's T20 World Cup before it was announced by the ICC in August that the event would be moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead.

Skipper Nigar Sultana won the toss and opted to bat first in Match No. 1 against Scotland. Having amassed 36 runs off 38 deliveries, Sobhana Mostary top-scored for her side.

Opener Shathi Rani also made a valuable contribution with the bat, adding 29 runs off 32 balls. With the other batters failing to step up to the occasion, the Nigar Sultana-led side eventually managed to put up 119-7 in their 20 overs.

Right-arm off-break bowler Saskia Horley was the pick of the bowlers, having finished with the figures of 3-13 in her two-over spell.

Chasing a modest target of 120 runs, Scotland ended up scoring 103-7 in their 20 overs, losing the contest by 16 runs. Opener and wicket-keeper batter Sarah Bryce's unbeaten knock of 49 runs off 52 balls was in vain as there was no support for her at the other end.

Next up, Bangladesh will face England in Sharjah on Saturday, October 5, while Scotland plays the West Indies in Dubai the following day.