In a moment filled with pure emotion, Bangladesh secured a long-overdue victory at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating Scotland by 16 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The triumph marked Bangladesh’s first win in 10 years at the tournament, and the emotional response from the players highlighted the significance of the moment.
Bangladesh, who were originally slated to host the tournament before political unrest shifted it to the UAE, posted a modest total of 119-7 in their 20 overs.In a game dominated by their disciplined bowling attack, they restricted Scotland to 103-7, sparking celebrations both on the field and back home.
Players broke down in tears as they embraced one another after the win, which came on the back of years of struggle at the highest level of women’s cricket. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, who was playing her 100th T20I match, expressed her pride in her team, calling the smiles on her players’ faces her “biggest inspiration.”
“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. We had it in our minds that this is our moment. Means a lot,” said Sultana, her voice cracking with emotion. “Building a partnership between Rani and Mostary was crucial for us. We had a good total, and we kept believing in ourselves. We have a very good spin attack, and Marufa also did well, so we were confident about defending the score.”
The captain also explained her decision to bat lower in the order, crediting Taj Nehar’s recent form. “Taj was playing brilliantly in the warm-up games, and we wanted her to build a partnership and hit some boundaries. Unfortunately, she got out, but we are happy we fought back,” she added.
Ritu Moni, who was named Player of the Match for her stellar bowling performance, reflected on the team’s hard work. “It was a decent wicket, so I just wanted to bowl wicket-to-wicket and use my variations. We have put in a lot of hard work over the last year, and we were really prepared. It’s a proud moment for me and my team.”
The victory, Bangladesh’s first in T20 World Cups since 2014, has stirred excitement among fans and cricket supporters in Bangladesh. The ICC shared videos and photos of the emotional celebrations, with Sultana seen in tears as she embraced her teammates.
WATCH:
With this win, Bangladesh is hoping to build momentum in the tournament as they prepare to face England in their next group match in Sharjah. Captain Nigar Sultana remains optimistic, saying, “Seeing the girls smile is the biggest inspiration.”