Guwahati, (UNI) England Women held their nerve to beat Bangladesh Women by four wickets in a tense finish in the 8th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium here tonight.
The match, filled with drama and fight, saw England recover from early setbacks to secure victory, thanks to a superb knock by Heather Knight.
Chasing 179, England were rattled early as Bangladesh seamer Marufa Akter dismissed Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont within the first six overs.
The spinners then took over, Fahima Khatun striking thrice to leave England reeling at 69 for 4. But Knight, calm and unflustered, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 79 off 111 balls. Her partnership of 79 runs for the seventh wicket with Charlotte Dean guided England past the finish line in the 47th over.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 178 in 49.4 overs, driven by Sobhana Mostary’s composed 60 and Rabeya Khan’s late fireworks — an unbeaten 43 from 27 balls that included four boundaries and a towering six off Linsey Smith.
Bangladesh, however, squandered a stronger total due to middle-order collapses induced by England’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone (3/23), Charlotte Dean (2/28), and Linsey Smith (2/33).
Smith’s opening burst removed Rubya Haider and Nigar Sultana early. Sharmin Akhter counterattacked with fluent drives and flicks, racing to 30 with six boundaries before falling to Ecclestone right after drinks.
Sobhana Mostary, meanwhile, held the innings together with smart placement and composure, reaching her maiden ODI fifty in the 38th over.
As wickets kept tumbling, Rabeya Khan produced an audacious counterattack in the death overs. Her inventive sweeps and lofts off Capsey and Smith lit up the final few overs — a six over long-on in the 49th over bringing the Bangladesh dugout to its feet. Yet, the innings ended abruptly when Shanjida Akter Meghla holed out to mid-on with two balls left in the innings.
England’s reply began shakily as Marufa Akter’s sharp inswingers breached the defense of Amy Jones and trapped Beaumont lbw. Fahima Khatun’s clever turners accounted for Sciver-Brunt and Dunkley in quick succession, putting Bangladesh on top. But Knight found an ally in Charlie Dean, and together they steadied the chase with risk-free batting, milking the spinners with soft hands and precise sweeps.
Knight’s poise under pressure turned the game around. Bangladesh’s bowlers fought valiantly, but the lack of a breakthrough in the final phase proved costly. England reached 182 for 6, with Knight sealing victory with a single that summed up her authority and temperament.
Bangladesh’s spirited performance, highlighted by Sobhana’s technical resilience and Rabeya’s fearless hitting, earned them applause despite defeat. For England, the win underlined their depth and experience in crunch moments, led by their unflappable captain.
Final Scores: Bangladesh Women 178 all out in 49.4 overs (Sobhana Mostary 60, Rabeya Khan 43 notout; Ecclestone 3/23, Dean 2/28, Smith 2/33).
England Women 182/6 in 46.1 overs (Heather Knight 79 not out, Nat Sciver-Brunt 32; Fahima Khatun 3/16, Marufa Akter 2/28).
