Scotland missed the opportunity to seal their place in the Women’s T20 World Cup after suffering a heavy defeat against Bangladesh in the ICC qualifier in Nepal. Bangladesh dominate with powerful batting as they posted a massive 191-5 in their 20 overs at Kirtipur.
Openers Dilara Aktar and Juairiya Ferdous laid a solid foundation with a 67-run partnership in seven overs. Captain Nigar Sultana then took control, scoring an unbeaten 56 off 35 balls, while Sobhana Mostary added a quick 47 off 23 deliveries to boost the total.
Despite the onslaught, Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce bowled economically, conceding just 20 runs in her four overs. However, the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain Bangladesh’s aggressive middle order.
Scotland collapse in difficult chase as their reply got off to the worst possible start. Darcey Carter was dismissed off the first ball, and the team soon slipped to 35-5, putting them under severe pressure.
Megan McColl and Pippa Sproul tried to rebuild the innings with useful contributions, but Scotland never recovered. They eventually finished on 101-9 from their allotted 20 overs, falling 90 runs short of the target.
Qualification hopes remain alive despite the defeat, as Scotland still control their destiny. A win against the United States on Sunday will confirm their place in the main tournament.
With Bangladesh and the Netherlands already qualified, competition remains tight for the remaining spots. Scotland now face a must-win situation as they aim to secure their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup appearance in England this June.
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