Scotland thump USA, Bangladesh edge Ireland: Day 1 Wrap - Women's T20WC Qualifier
Toss: UAE opt to bat first
Result: Thailand win by 7 wickets
Opting to bat first, UAE were reduced to 7/3 with the top three making 0, 2 and 1. A promising half-century stand between Kavisha Kumari Egodage and Natasha Cherriath revived the innings for UAE, but Nattaya Bhoochatham returned to scalp the wicket of Natasha to break the partnership.
The innings seemed to be meandering towards a very ordinary total, but UAE managed 24 runs off the last two overs with Samaira Dharnidharka and Kavisha, in particular, upping the ante.
92/5 at the end of 20 overs still seemed well short, and Thailand piled on their agony by putting on 32 for the loss of no wickets in the Powerplay.
Natthakan Chantham was the aggressor-in-chief for Thailand, racing away to 39 off 37 balls in an opening stand of 55. The partnership was eventually broken by Indhuja Nandakumar in the 10th over.
Opener Nannapat Koncharoenkai continued to push Thailand towards the target and remained unbeaten on 34 as they completed a dominating win on day one of the qualifiers.
Toss: PNG opt to bat first
Result: Zimbabwe win by 8 wickets
A three-wicket haul from Kelis Ndlovu and good spells from Nomvelo Sibanda and Precious Marange helped Zimbabwe bowl PNG out for 83 after being asked to bowl at the Tolerance Oval.
Tanya Ruma top-scored for PNG with a 25 off 35 balls from No.3, but none of the other batters managed to cross single digits as PNG struggled against some top quality bowling.
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In the run chase, Zimbabwe came out all guns blazing, the openers racing to 57 inside nine overs. Ndhlovu completed a brilliant all-round performance with her opening partner Sharne Mayers making an attractive 28-ball 33.
Zimbabwe sealed the run chase with eight wickets to spare with Ndhlove unbeaten on 25 off 33 balls.
Toss: Bangladesh opt to bat first
Result: Bangladesh win by 14 runs
A half-century from Nigar Sultana and a three-wicket haul from Salma Khatun helped Bangladesh edge Ireland on the opening day of the qualifier. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh lost opener Murshida Khatun in the fifth over, but rebuilt with a strong stand between Shamima Sultana and Nigar.
While Shamima fell two short of a half-century, Nigar went on to complete hers and was only dismissed off the last ball in the innings for a brilliant 53-ball 67. Her knock set up Bangladesh's total of 143.
Ireland lost Gaby Lewis for a golden duck, and Orla Prendergast was dismissed by Khatun in the third over. Skipper Laura Delany and Amy Hunter kept Ireland afloat, but in a major blow to the chase, Hunter was run out by Khatun in the 10th over.
Eimear Richardson pushed Ireland's chances up with a 26-ball 40, but the pair of Khatun and Nahida Akter struck a couple of times to leave Ireland in trouble. The big blow came late in the innings when Richardson was run out as the ninth batter dismissed.
Ireland came close, but eventually lost by 14 runs as Bangladesh started their qualifier with a win.
Toss: Scotland opt to bat first
Result: Scotland win by 79 runs
Scotland lost a couple of early wickets after opting to bat first, and never really kicked on until Sarah Bryce walked in at No.5 to push USA onto the back foot. Alongside an enterprising Priyanaz Chatterji, Bryce controlled the innings, scoring at a quick rate.
The 32-ball 45 from her proved to be the backbone of Scotland's revival. Chatterji made a 29-ball 32 and the duo put on 73 for the fifth wicket as Scotland finished on 130/5.
In the run chase, USA never got going, losing three wickets inside the first five overs. Mahika Kandanala, the only player to cross double digits, fell as the fourth wicket, also inside the Powerplay, as Scotland dominated proceedings.
They went on to seal a massive win, bowling USA out for 51 to win by 79 runs to start off their qualifier on a sound note.
Thailand and Zimbabwe meet in the pick of the early matches on Day 2 after both opened the Qualifier with a victory, while Papua New Guinea and UAE each have an opportunity to bounce back from losses.
Bangladesh against Scotland looms as another crucial clash as they each look to start with a perfect record, while Ireland will hope to get on the winner's list when they face the USA.