Nigar Sultana Joty stood overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down her face.
In what must were a celebratory occasion marking her a hundredth T20I look—the first by any Bangladeshi girl—the valid pleasure came not from her non-public milestone nonetheless from an elusive victory on the T20 World Cup. On Thursday in Sharjah, Bangladesh edged past Scotland by 16 runs, breaking a 10-year winless trip on the tournament.
It wasn’t the smoothest of performances. Bangladesh stumbled with the bat after a formidable begin, and their fielding left great to be desired, along side about a pricey misses from the captain herself. However, the bowling unit held firm, guaranteeing a difficult-fought procure, which Joty later described as a defining moment for ladies’s cricket in Bangladesh.
“We came here alive to to fetch that first procure,” Joty had stated earlier than the tournament, reflecting on the group’s decade-long drought on the match. Now, with the pressure of that burden lifted, Bangladesh flip their consideration to sterner notify: a clash in opposition to the formidable England aspect later at present.
Self perception excessive, nonetheless challenges forward
Despite the flaws in their opening efficiency, Joty remains hopeful that Bangladesh can raise their momentum into at present’s match. “Winning the first game in a tournament is mandatory. It objects the tone,” she stated. “We’re focusing on how we methodology the England game. We have loads to work on, nonetheless we would like to scamper match by match.”
England, four-time finalists and champions of the inaugural edition, will seemingly be unprecedented territory for Bangladesh. The groups salvage confronted off most effective thrice earlier than, all in 50-over World Cup fits, with England rising victorious on every occasion. Nonetheless this Bangladesh aspect believes they’ve the spirit and rising perception to notify the heavyweights.
Sobhana Mostary, Bangladesh’s high scorer in opposition to Scotland with 36 runs, feels that a procure over England would possibly well presumably propel the group towards a semi-closing situation. “Our self assurance is excessive after that first victory,” she eminent. “We all know the duty forward, nonetheless we will give every thing in batting, bowling, and fielding to attain it depend.”
Classes from Scotland procure
For the final optimism, Joty acknowledged there are areas that need sharpening, namely her hold missed chances within the inspire of the stumps. “I’ve purchased to toughen,” she admitted. “We have reviewed the sport, and we will take the positives, nonetheless there is work to be accomplished earlier than dealing with England.”
Ritu Moni, who changed into named player of the match for her decisive efficiency in opposition to Scotland, moreover expressed her optimism. “It feels merely to procure, especially after our preparation. All individuals’s in excessive spirits, and we’re aiming for something particular in opposition to England.”
Bangladesh’s World Cup stagger continues with two more neighborhood fits in Sharjah earlier than they scamper on to face South Africa in Dubai. Before every thing scheduled to happen in Bangladesh, the tournament changed into relocated to the UAE. Unexcited, Joty and her teammates are hopeful of receiving sturdy make stronger, great admire they did in their opener.
“We had been heartbroken when the venue changed into changed, as we would imagined playing at home in entrance of our crowd,” Joty admitted. “Nonetheless the fans who changed into up here had been amazing. It felt admire a apartment game.”
