RACHEL SLATER AND SCOTLAND LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST THE WEST INDIES

Scotland Women will be looking to record their first victory at their first-ever T20 World Cup on Sunday, when they take on the West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

 

Scotland's debut appearance got off in disappointing fashion on Thursday, when they came out on the wrong-side of a narrow 16-run defeat to Bangladesh, who recorded their first World Cup win in the process.

 

Despite the result, it was still an incredibly proud day for the group of players representing their nation on the biggest stage for the first time.

 

Rachel Slater said: "I think [we're} obviously slightly disappointed results-wise. We're here to win games and we definitely think we were good enough to win that game and it's fine margins.

 

"But I think when we look back on it as a whole, it was an amazing day to be part of the opening game of a World Cup, and to be the first Scottish side to play in a World Cup is obviously really special and I think all the girls kind of appreciate that.

 

"You can look at the cricket and think we could have done this, could have done that differently, but I think at the time everyone left absolutely everything out there on the pitch and gave 110%, and there's not a lot more we could have done in those conditions.

 

"It was a really special thing to be a part of, and it's kind of what you play cricket for."

 

 

Three days on, Scotland have another opportunity to open their World Cup account, and it will come against a familiar foe in the West Indies.

 

The two nations faced off twice in September as both prepared for this event, with each side coming away with a win.

 

Slater continued: "I think we're a good team, we're here to win games and we've shown that already, we've beaten some really good sides, and even to get here we've beaten some good sides.

 

"Regardless of results, if we go out there and play how we know we can play, fully commit to it and fight in games, then I think we can be proud of that and I think already there's a lot to be proud of, as the first Scottish side to play at a Women's World Cup.

 

"Obviously, we are here to win and we do want to win games, and we know we're capable of doing that, but I don't think that's going to determine our success here and how proud we can be of everything else.

 

"It would be nice to win some games and we've already won some big games in the warm-ups, but you do want to do that when the competition starts. But I think regardless, we can go home, whatever happens, and be really proud of ourselves."

 

Scotland take on the West Indies on Sunday 6 October at 1500 BST, live on Sky Sports Cricket.