In the 6th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup played between Bangladesh women vs England women, England Women secured a win over Bangladesh Women, defending a modest total of 118 runs. Both teams put up a strong fight, but England’s disciplined bowling and fielding efforts led them to a 21-run victory. This low-scoring match highlighted the competitiveness of both sides, with standout performances from England’s bowlers and key contributions from their batters.
England’s innings began with openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Bouchier showed intent early on, playing some aggressive shots to provide England with a decent start. However, Bangladesh’s Rabeya Khan made the first breakthrough, dismissing Bouchier for 23 runs off 18 balls in the 7th over, caught by Nahida Akter.
Despite the early loss, Wyatt-Hodge kept the innings going with a cautious and controlled approach. She made a steady 41 runs from 40 balls, finding boundaries but unable to increase the scoring rate significantly. Her dismissal came in the 13th over after a stumping by Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana off Nahida Akter’s bowling, just when England needed to push the pace.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, one of England’s star players, couldn’t make much of an impact, falling leg-before to Fahima Khatun for just 2 runs. The middle-order failed to capitalize on the start, with Heather Knight (6 runs off 7 balls), Alice Capsey (9 runs off 17 balls), and Danielle Gibson (7 runs off 11 balls) all getting out cheaply. However, Amy Jones remained unbeaten, scoring 12 runs from 16 balls.
In the final overs, Sophie Ecclestone provided a small spark by hitting a six in her brief 2-ball stay, helping England finish their 20 overs at 118/7. Although the total wasn’t huge, it was competitive considering the strength of their bowling attack.
Bangladesh’s bowlers kept England under pressure by bowling tight lines throughout the innings. Nahida Akter was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for 32 runs in her 4 overs. Fahima Khatun also impressed, picking up 2 crucial wickets while conceding just 18 runs in her 4-over spell.
Rabeya Khan was very economical, giving away only 15 runs and taking a wicket in her 4 overs. Ritu Moni also contributed with 2 wickets, including that of England’s captain Heather Knight. Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling kept England from posting a large total, giving them a reasonable chance to chase the target.
Bangladesh’s run chase got off to a poor start as their openers struggled against England’s tight bowling. Shathi Rani was the first to fall, caught by Sophie Ecclestone off Linsey Smith for 7 runs in the 4th over. Soon after, Dilara Akter was trapped leg-before by Charlie Dean for 6 runs, leaving Bangladesh at 17/2.
Sobhana Mostary then stepped up and played a solid knock, scoring 44 runs from 48 balls. She held the innings together while wickets fell at the other end. Mostary’s responsible batting kept Bangladesh’s hopes alive, but the lack of support from the middle-order made the chase difficult.
Captain Nigar Sultana showed some fight, contributing 15 runs from 20 balls before being run out in the 12th over. Bangladesh lost quick wickets after that, with Shorna Akter (2 runs off 4 balls) and Taj Nehar (7 runs off 12 balls) failing to provide much resistance as England’s bowlers took control of the game.
With Bangladesh at 85/6 in the 18th over, the required run rate had climbed too high for the lower order to manage. Sobhana Mostary was eventually dismissed leg-before by Charlie Dean in the 19th over. Despite a brief unbeaten effort from Fahima Khatun, who scored 5 runs from 5 balls, Bangladesh could only manage 97/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by 21 runs.
England’s bowlers were exceptional throughout Bangladesh’s innings, maintaining tight control and applying pressure. Linsey Smith led the attack with a brilliant spell, taking 2 wickets for just 11 runs in her 4 overs. Charlie Dean also picked up 2 wickets, conceding 22 runs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered a reliable performance, claiming a wicket while giving away just 20 runs in her 4 overs. Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn supported the effort, conceding 21 and 22 runs respectively, with Glenn also taking a wicket.
England’s all-round performance helped them secure a well-earned win. Though their batting wasn’t dominant, their bowlers stepped up and ensured Bangladesh never gained control of the chase. Bangladesh will be disappointed with their batting, particularly the lack of partnerships that could have given them a better chance to win.
For England, this victory will be a boost to their confidence as they prepare for future matches, aiming to improve both their batting and bowling performances. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will need to regroup and work on their batting strategy to be more competitive in future games.
