Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 49 was not enough to get Scotland over the line as they started their debut Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 16-run defeat by Bangladesh on Wednesday. Scotland were chasing 120 for victory but the opener, batting in the Sharjah heat having earlier kept wicket, was given little support.

Saskia Horley starred with the ball as Scotland limited Bangladesh, who won the toss and elected to bat, to 119 for seven despite dropping three catches in the Group B opener. She took a career-best three for 13 from two overs at the end of the innings, removing Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni and Nigar Sultana.

Scotland, who had lost their four previous T20 internationals against Bangladesh, got off to a mixed start with Horley and Kathryn Bryce departing cheaply by the time the score had reached 31.

Ailsa Lister, who had been dropped in the deep on five, failed to make the most of her escape when she holed out having added six more, and Scotland faltered when Priyanaz Chatterji was needlessly run out for five with the score on 65.

Scotland fell further off the pace and Nahida Akter all but sealed the win when she had Katherine Fraser caught by Rabeya Khan for two, in the process becoming the first woman from Bangladesh to take 100 T20 wickets.

Elsewhere, Fatima Sana put in an all-round performance to lead Pakistan to an opening victory over Sri Lanka. Sana led her side with both bat and ball, top scoring with 30 off 20 balls and then picking up two for 10 in 3.5 overs as Pakistan beat their rivals by 31 runs.