SCOTLAND NARROWLY LOSE WORLD CUP OPENER TO BANGLADESH
Scotland's first ever ICC Women's T20 World Cup fixture ended in defeat, as Bangladesh earned a 16-run victory in Sharjah.
Batting first on a slow, low wicket, Bangladesh made 119-7, Saskia Horley (3-13) finishing as the pick of the Scotland bowlers as she picked up three quick wickets at the death.
In reply, no-one was able to stay alongside Sarah Bryce (49*), who remained on the field for the full 40 overs in the searing heat, as Scotland fell short of their target on 103-7.
Reflecting on Scotland's defeat, Horley said: "There's a bit of disappointment with not getting the win, but there's so much we can take from today's game, to restrict them to only 120.
"There's definitely mixed emotions, definitely some positive ones still, there's still so many games left that we'll compete in, and I'm excited for us to make a bit of a stance in this competition still."
Shathi Rani got Bangladesh underway from the fourth ball of the innings, slapping Rachel Slater away over cover for four.
Murshida Khatun was handed a life when she was dropped by Slater moving quickly to her right at mid-wicket off the bowling of Olivia Bell, but that missed opportunity didn't prove costly for Scotland.
Just three balls after being handed a life, Khatun (12) fell to Kathryn Bryce without adding to her score, skying an attempted drive to Katherine Fraser at mid on who took a steepling catch.
Rani and Sobhana Mostary added 42 for the second wicket, but Scotland maintained their control woth the ball as Bangladesh struggled to find the boundary throughout the middle period.
Rani (29) departed with the total on 68, caught in the ring by Horley as she attempted to slog-sweep Fraser.
Taj Nehar lasted just one ball, run out after excellent work from Abtaha Maqsood in the ring.
Nigar Sultana looked to be positive as she used her feet to drive Maqsood away for four, but she lost the support of Mostary for a well-made 36, as the Bangladesh opener ran past a Bell delivery and was stumped.
Horley’s introduction in the 18th over paid off immediately, as she removed Shorna Akter (5), caught behind square by Priyanaz Chatterji as she attempted to sweep.
Horley struck again with the final ball of the over, outfoxing Ritu Moni (4) who was stumped as the ball cannoned back off Sarah Bryce’s pads.
Bangladesh finished on 119-7, Horley picking up her third victim in the final over, as Sultana holed out to Kathryn Bryce at long on for 18.
Scotland’s pursuit of 120 started in style as Horley, driving Marufa Akter delightfully through the covers for four.
However, the opener fell for eight, stumped by Sultana off the bowling of Fahima Khatun.
Kathryn Bryce was soon in the groove, twice stepping across her stumps and sweeping Khatun to the boundary in the space of three balls.
Scotland suffered a real blow in the following over when Kathryn Bryce (11) was bowled by a delivery from Akter that kept low and shot underneath her bat.
There were then 23 deliveries without a boundary before Ailsa Lister broke the shackles from the final ball of the ninth over, sweeping Rabeya in front of square for four.
Lister (11) then departed in the following over, caught by a back-peddling Rabeya at mid-off as she looked to strike Moni down the ground.
Sarah Bryce and Chatterji advanced the Scots' total to 65, but Bangladesh struck again as Chatterji was sent back by Bryce after setting off for a single, and was unable to make her ground.
Carter was the next to depart, caught superbly on the long-on boundary by a tumbling Fatima Khatun off the bowling of Moni.
Sarah Bryce and Lorna Jack-Brown pushed Scotland on to 88 before Jack-Brown fell, advancing down the track to Rabeya and missing, stumped by Sultana.
Fraser was the last Scot to lose her wicket as she looked to hit out, caught by Rabeya off the bowling of Nahida Akter.
Sarah Bryce finished unbeaten on a battling 49, alongside Maqsood (2*) as Scotland fell 16 runs short of their target on 103-7.