Captain's Crucial Knock Guarantees England's Hard-Fought Victory Against Bangladeshi Side
International Cricket Council Women's Global Tournament, Guwahati Stadium
Bangladesh Team 178 (49.4 overs): Sobhana 60 (108); Ecclestone 3-24
England Squad 182-6 (46.1 overs): Heather Knight 79* (111); Fahima 3-16
England won by four wickets in hand
Heather Knight's unbeaten 79 steered the English team to a hard-earned four-wicket victory over the Bangladesh squad, keeping their winning start in the Women's World Cup in Guwahati.
Chasing a modest 179 to win on a challenging pitch, England stumbled to 78 for 5 and 103 for 6 as their familiar struggles against spin resurfaced.
However, a patient, unbroken stand of 79 between Knight and Dean, who scored 27, enabled the team reach their target in the 47th over.
Heather Knight Survives Initial Dangers to Anchor England Innings
Seamer Marufa dismissed top-order batters Amy Jones and Beaumont early on with swinging balls, before the turning point arrived in the 15th over when former captain Knight was awarded a reprieve on 13.
She drilled the ball to Shorna at cover, but the TV umpire decided that the fielder had dragged the ball along the ground as she lunged ahead, following Knight also successfully reviewing a caught behind and an lbw.
After that, she was gritty and disciplined in her return back from a injury, as the side narrowly won a nerve-wracking contest that nearly became one of the tournament's major surprises.
Fahima was the catalyst of the English batting wobble with 3-16, leading an impressive bowling and fielding display after their batting unit had also struggled.
England's Spin Attack Shines Again
The team’s spinners unsurprisingly dominated, claiming nine dismissals between them as Bangladesh were bowled out for 178 runs in 49.4 overs.
Ecclestone starred with 3-24 while Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith and Alice Capsey claimed two wickets each.
There was stubborn resistance from Sobhana Mostary, who scored 60 from 108 deliveries, before Rabeya Khan provided some late and crucial momentum with an not out 43 from 27.
The England squad travel to Colombo to continue their tournament, facing the Sri Lankan team on Saturday.
After the Game Comments
Skipper Sciver-Brunt: "We accomplished what we needed to do to get over the line. Earlier, we discussed as a group that not everything is going to be straightforward and we will need some mental strength in our game. It might have looked a bit better but we are really happy."
"Their composure they both showed in a high pressure situation was excellent. We hoped to have won with a fewer wickets down but that is the way it unfolded in the end."
Bangladesh captain Joty: "That was an incredible match, particularly with the way my girls battled until the last ball."
"I felt maybe 20 or 30 runs light on that wicket. Should she have batted earlier?"
"I wanted the batswomen to play until the end because we might have scored 10 or 12 runs more. Our players are very inexperienced and sometimes not making the decisions and we aimed to give them guidance to succeed in the middle."
Ex-England bowler Alex Hartley: "The England team need to get better at facing spin. For any opposition, you know you have to bowl as much spin bowling as is possible on the surface you have against this side."
