In a match that will long be remembered for its umpiring drama and test of nerve, England Women scraped past Bangladesh Women in a tense low-scoring encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. What looked like a routine chase of 178 quickly turned into a psychological battle shaped by crucial umpiring moments, Heather Knight’s resilience, and Charlie Dean’s calm under pressure.
The defining passage of play arrived in the 15th over, when Heather Knight appeared to be dismissed after chipping a delivery from Nahida Akter to extra cover, where Shorna Akter dived forward and claimed a low catch. Bangladesh erupted in celebration — only for the drama to shift upstairs.
The on-field umpires, uncertain about the catch’s cleanliness, sent it for review. Several tense replays followed, showing the ball extremely close to the turf. After a prolonged wait, the third umpire ruled Knight not out, citing inconclusive evidence. The Bangladeshi players stood in disbelief as Knight, who had already begun to walk off, was asked to return.
“I can’t say I’ve ever been out three times and been reprieved in an innings. That was a new one for me,” Knight later reflected with a wry smile. “I thought it carried — that’s why I walked off. But obviously, the TV umpire decided otherwise.”
From that moment onward, Knight transformed fortune into focus. With England reeling at 103 for 6, the pressure was immense. Yet, the former England captain anchored her side with a masterclass in controlled batting, compiling an unbeaten 79 off 111 balls.
At the other end stood Charlie Dean, whose all-round brilliance quietly stitched England’s fractured innings together. Earlier, Dean had starred with the ball, returning 2 for 28 in 10 overs, breaking Bangladesh’s rhythm by dismissing Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni.
When the pressure shifted to the chase, Dean absorbed it with remarkable maturity. Her unbeaten 27 off 56 balls was an exercise in restraint, supporting Knight with unwavering calm. Together, the pair added an unbroken 79-run stand, rescuing England from the brink of collapse.
Knight herself acknowledged Dean’s influence, “Charlie was brilliant. We just kept telling each other that one partnership could win it. There wasn’t much pace on the ball, so we had to park our egos and play the situation.”
When England finally crossed the finish line, there was more relief than jubilation. The umpiring calls had played their part — one in particular shifting the course of the match — but it was Knight’s and Dean’s unflappable temperament that saw England through.
Knight’s unbeaten knock, underscored by her honesty and grace amid controversy, earned her the Player of the Match award. Dean’s steady composure with both bat and ball ensured England lived to fight another day in the tournament.
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