BAN W vs ENG W | Twitter in awe as Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone carry England over line in thrilling encounter

After being put into bat at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Bangladesh had a decent start with opener Sharmin Akhter smashing three boundaries in an over from Lauren Bell to take them to 23/0 after the first four. But Rubya Haider’s wicket in Bell’s next over, followed by captain Nigar Sultana Joti’s soft dismissal, sent the Tigresses into a shell. They managed just eight runs in the next six overs, ending the mandatory powerplay at 31/2. Left-arm spinner Ecclestone’s accurate spell meant there was no way out for Bangladesh, though Sobhana Mostary held one end up with a patient half-century. She hit eight fours during her 108-ball 60 but kept losing partners from the other end as they slid to 130/7 after 43 overs. However, leg-spinner Rabeya Khan’s entertaining cameo helped the side reach 178 before being bowled out with two balls to spare. She smashed six fours and a six to remain unbeaten on 43 off 27 balls, while Ecclestone finished with figures of 3/24 in 10 overs. Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, and Alice Capsey played the supporting cast to perfection with two wickets each.

In reply, England had a wobbly start against some impressive swing bowling from young Marufa Akter, who trapped both openers leg before cheaply within the seventh over as the score read just 29. But a 40-run partnership between captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and former captain Heather Knight for the third wicket settled the early nerves as England needed to chase down just 110 runs from the remaining 32 overs with eight wickets in hand. But leg-spinner Fahima Khatun triggered a middle-order collapse as England stared down the wall. She priced out the settled Sciver-Brunt (32) and Sophia Dunkley in one over before ending Emma Lamb’s struggling innings three overs later. But Knight’s gritty 79-run unbeaten stand with Charlie Dean shut the door on the Tigresses as England went past the target to end at 182/6 with 23 balls to spare. Knight hit eight fours and a six to remain unconquered on 79 off 111, while Dean grinded out at the other end with a priceless knock of 27. Fahima, who led Bangladesh’s fightback, ended with stellar figures of 3/16 in 10 overs, including two maidens, while Marufa had 2/28 in her five overs.

Well done England ladies  team 🏏🏏🏏😅

— Dickieboy Bradders 🌍 (@Dickieboy616) 

The best

England women defeated Bangladesh women by 4 wickets ۔   

— Tamanna e Dil (@ishqsufiyana00) 

World Class

After Match 8, England sit on top of the table! That massive win against South Africa has given their net run rate a solid boost. 💪🏏         

— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) 

Tough loss

England survive a scare and beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets to make it 2 wins out of 2. Knight with an excellent 79*.   

— Scott Rose (@srose93)