SCOTLAND FALL TO BANGLADESH DESPITE RECORD-BREAKING PARTNERSHIP
Scotland Women suffered a 34-run defeat to Bangladesh, despite a highest-ever eighth wicket partnership in Women's One Day International Cricket.
It's a result that leaves Scotland's qualification hopes reliant on other results, with Bangladesh and Pakistan both having a 100% record thus far.
Priyanaz Chatterji and Rachel Slater were a part of history as they put on 115 for the eighth wicket, but it wasn't enough as Scotland fell short of Bangladesh's 276-6.
Chatterji said: "We're obviously really disappointed to have lost, they were points in the game where we played well, but ultimately we didn't do that for long enough periods to come away with a win.
"It was a tricky situation when me and Slats (Rachel Slater) came together, they were bowling well at that point, but I don't think at any point we realised we were getting close to a record at any point!"
Scotland were tasked with bowling first for the first time this tournament, and Bangladesh openers Ishma Tanjim and Fargana Hoque negotiated a testing opening period, adding 36 for the opening wicket.
Tanjim (14) came unstuck as she looked to take on Chatterji, miscuing one straight to Abtaha Maqsood who took a simple catch at mid-off.
Hoque and Sharmin Akhter added 103 for the second wicket, looking comfortable against the spinners in particular as they scored freely.
Both players would go to their half-centuries, before Kathryn Bryce made the breakthrough, Sarah Bryce taking a fantastic catch down the leg-side to dismiss Akhter for 57.
Hoque fell soon after, also for 57, Chatterji taking a steepling catch in the ring off the bowling of Chloe Abel.
Scotland continued to chip away, Sobhana Mostary (9) falling LBW to Rachel Slater, to leave Bangladesh 176-4 in the 38th over.
Nigar Sultana Joty, the Bangladesh captain, then took it upon herself to take her side to a commanding total, accelerating at the death as the runs began to flow.
Katherine Fraser removed Ritu Moni (12) with a superb return catch, but Joty, alongside Khatun, added 61 in 44 deliveries, to lift Bangladesh up to 276 – their highest score in ODI cricket.
Khatun fell on the penultimate ball to Kathryn Bryce, as Joty finished unbeaten on 83 from just 59 deliveries.
Scotland’s pursuit of 277 got off a sticky start, as three wickets fell in the powerplay. Abbi Aitken-Drummond (1), Kathryn Bryce (5) and Pippa Sproul (17) all departing cheaply as they slipped to 31-3.
Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister set about rebuilding the innings, and had added 47 for the fourth wicket when disaster struck, as Lister was run out by Marufa Akter for 18.
That sparked another cluster of wickets as Scotland slid to 110-7, Megan McColl (5) and Katherine Fraser (8) falling either side of the crucial wicket of Sarah Bryce (42).
Despite Scotland requiring 166 from the remaining 22 overs, Priyanaz Chatterji and Rachel Slater didn't go down without a fight – the pair set a new record for the highest eighth wicket partnership in Women’s ODI cricket, adding 115 superb runs.
Both struck career-bests in international cricket, as both finishing on 61 – with Slater’s unbeaten knock the second-highest score batting at nine or lower in Women’s ODIs.
Ultimately, they were left with too much to do, as Scotland fell 34 runs short of Bangladesh’s total on 242, leaving their qualification hopes in the balance.
Scotland round out their tournament against Ireland on Friday, live on icc.tv.