Bangladesh, led by the skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, were up against England, led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, in the 8th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Both sides are entering the contest on the back of comprehensive victories and are keen to extend their winning streak in the tournament.
Bangladesh made a couple of changes: Ritu Moni replaced Fargana Hoque, and Sanjida Akter replaced Nishita Akter Nishi in the starting 11 for them. England retained the same side that took the field in their opening game against South Africa.
Sobhana Mostary’s fifty, Rabeya Khan’s cameo, lifts Bangladesh to 178
The Bangladesh openers Sharmin Akhter and Rubya Haider got their side off to a watchful start with a 24-run opening partnership, after skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bowl first. Lauren Bell broke the stand, by sending Rubya Haider back to the pavilion in the 5th over of the innings.
The in-form left-arm spinner Linsey Smith landed another massive blow by sending the opposition skipper Nigar Sultana Joty for a two-ball duck in the 6th over of the innings to provide the 2nd breakthrough for England. Sobhana Mostary joined Sharmin Akhter at the crease, and the duo found it hard to get going against the spinners but managed to fight their way through on what seemed like a challenging wicket to bat on. Bangladesh managed to surpass the 50-run mark, courtesy of a 34-run partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Sophie Ecclestone managed to induce a faint nick to the keeper, just after the drinks interval, to remove the well-set Sharmin Akhter (30 off 52 balls) in the 16th over of the innings to provide the 3rd breakthrough for her side. Sobhana Mostary dug deep and managed to form decent partnerships worth 26 for the 4th wicket, alongside Shorna Akter (10 off 23 balls), and a 23-run stand for the 5th wicket, alongside Ritu Moni, which took the total past the 100-run mark.
Mostary kept losing partners at the other end until Rabeya Khan entered and infused some serious momentum into the innings with her fearless approach. A couple of brisk partnerships of 26 for the 8th wicket between Sobhana Mostary (60 off 108 balls) and Rabeya Khan, and a vital 21-run stand for the 10th wicket with Sanjida Akter Meghla, took the total closer to the 180-run mark, before getting bundled out for 178, with a couple of balls to spare.
Rabeya Khan (43* off 27 balls) chipped in with a power-packed cameo, giving some sort of respectability to the total. Sophie Ecclestone (10-3-24-3), Linsey Smith (9.4-1-33-2), Charlie Dean (10-2-28-2), and Alice Capsey (8-1-31-2) were exceptional with the ball for England.
Heather Knight, Charlie Dean, guide England over the line in hard-fought win
Defending a low total of 179, skipper Nigar Sultana Joty’s go-to weapon with the new ball, Marufa Akter, delivered yet again, removing both the English openers inside the powerplay, to give them a real chance to have a crack at England’s middle order.
Heather Knight lived a charmed life in the middle, getting the benefit of the doubt for the inconclusive evidence for the catch in the 15th over, bowled by Fahima Khatun. The umpire controversially got the decision overturned, calling Heather Knight back after she walked off. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Heather Knight at the crease, and the duo stitched a crucial 40-run partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Fahima Khatun got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt (32 off 41 balls), who was in ominous rhythm, providing a much-needed 3rd breakthrough for Bangladesh in the 19th over of the innings. Fahima struck again in that over to send Sophia Dunkley for a duck, leaving England in deep trouble at 69/4 on a tricky wicket.
Heather Knight kept losing partners at the other end, and Bangladesh had a serious sniff at a historic and defining moment in their history, when they reduced England to 103/6 in the 30th over of the innings.
Charlie Dean partnered with Heather Knight, and the former skipper utilised all her experience of playing in big tournaments, as she also grew in confidence through the course of her challenging stay at the crease. Heather Knight held her composure, and Charlie Dean (27* off 56 balls) played an impressive supporting hand as the duo guided England over the line with a solid, unbeaten 79-run partnership for the 7th wicket.
England eventually got over the line with 4 wickets in hand and 23 balls to spare. Heather Knight (79* off 111 balls) registered her 27th half-century in the format to ensure her side gets those crucial two points on the board. Alice Capsey (20 off 34 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (13 off 17 balls) chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat for England.
Fahima Khatun (10-2-16-3) was exceptional with the ball for Bangladesh. Marufa Akter (5-0-28-2) and Sanjida Akter Meghla (7-0-24-1) played their part with the ball for their side. Heather Knight was awarded the Player of the Match for scoring a match-winning half-century, ensuring England survived the Bangladeshi spin threat to secure consecutive victories in the ongoing 13th edition of the tournament.
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