Bangladesh Women can seal top spot and an unbeaten campaign when they face a determined Scotland side desperate for a historic win to reach the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. One team chases glory, the other survival. Friday morning in Kirtipur promises high drama.
Match Details and Stakes
The Super Six clash begins at 9:00 AM local time (8:45 AM IST) on January 30 at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
Bangladesh have already qualified but want to finish with a perfect record. Scotland must win to leapfrog Thailand and book their first-ever World Cup ticket. Nothing less than victory will do for Kathryn Bryce’s team.
Current Form: Two Teams Heading in Opposite Directions
Bangladesh arrive unbeaten in five matches. Their batting clicks, bowling fires on all cylinders, and fielding has been sharp.
Scotland lost their opener to Netherlands but have since won three straight. The Bryce sisters and Katherine Fraser have carried the side, yet they know Bangladesh present their toughest test yet.
Key Players Who Could Decide the Game
Bangladesh’s Big Three
Sobhana Mostary leads the tournament run charts with 182 runs at 45.50 and a strike rate of 135.82. She has smashed nine sixes already.
Sharmin Akhter plays the perfect anchor role, scoring 167 runs at 33.40 with two fifties. Together they form the most productive opening pair in the qualifiers.
Rabeya Khan’s leg-spin has been deadly. Seven wickets at 16.28 and a strike rate of 15.4 balls per wicket make her Bangladesh’s trump card.
Scotland’s Match-Winners
Kathryn Bryce is having another superstar tournament. 111 runs and ten wickets at 9.90 tell only half the story. Her economy of 5.25 runs per over has strangled oppositions.
Abtaha Maqsood has been the find of the qualifiers. Nine wickets at just 9.88, striking every 11.3 balls. The leg-spinner loves big moments.
Katherine Fraser has announced herself on the global stage. 162 runs plus six wickets at 13.50 while going at only 5.4 an over. The 20-year-old all-rounder is ready for her breakout moment.
Head-to-Head Nightmare for Scotland
Bangladesh dominate the rivalry 5-0 in T20Is.
The last meeting came in the 2024 World Cup group stage in Bangladesh. The hosts won comfortably by eight wickets. Scotland have never beaten Bangladesh in any format.
Kirtipur Venue Turning into a Spinner’s Paradise
Average first-innings score in 2026: 136.3 (up from 116.3 in 2025).
Spin vs Pace in Kirtipur (2022-2026):
| Bowler Type | Average | Economy | Balls/Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spin | 18.90 | 5.86 | 19.3 |
| Pace | 21.38 | 6.16 | 20.8 |
Teams batting first win 53.9% of matches. Expect the toss winner to bat first.
Powerplay wickets average only 1.60. Teams that survive the first six overs usually post competitive totals.
What the Numbers Say: Prediction Time
Most models favour Bangladesh by 65-70%. Yet Scotland’s recent form and the Bryce-Fraser-Maqsood trio make this closer than the odds suggest.
Bold prediction: If Scotland restrict Bangladesh under 130, Kathryn Bryce can chase it down. But if Mostary and Akhter get 50-plus partnership, Bangladesh win by 20-25 runs.
Possible scenarios:
- Bangladesh bat first and post 140+: They win 8 times out of 10
- Scotland chase 130 or less: They win 7 times out of 10
- Dew factor in second innings could help the chasing side
This Bangladesh team has shown remarkable consistency through the tournament. They rarely lose control once ahead. Scotland will need something special to create history.
One match, two dreams. Bangladesh want perfection. Scotland want their first World Cup. Someone’s heart will break in Kirtipur on Friday morning.
Cricket fans, who are you backing? Drop your predictions below and let’s get the conversation going. If you’re watching at 8:45 AM IST, use #BANvSCO and tag your friends. This one is going to be special.
