ICC Women's WC: Knight heroics help ENG survive BAN scare; top points table

Former skipper Heather Knight showcased her trademark resilience with a composed half-century arsenic England overcame a stern situation from Bangladesh to seal a four-wicket triumph successful the ICC Women’s World Cup astatine the Barsapara Stadium connected Tuesday. Chasing 179, England were successful heavy occupation astatine 78 for 5 and aboriginal 103 for six earlier Knight anchored the innings with an unbeaten 79 disconnected 111 balls. Her concern with Charlie Dean, who remained not retired connected 27 from 56 deliveries, proved decisive arsenic the duo stitched unneurotic a captious 79-run basal for the seventh wicket to instrumentality the broadside location with 23 balls to spare.

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Earlier, England’s determination to vessel archetypal paid off, with the rotation trio of Sophie Ecclestone (3/24), Charlie Dean (2/28) and Alice Capsey (2/31) combining to restrict Bangladesh to 178.

Ecclestone’s spell stood retired for its precision and power arsenic she claimed cardinal wickets done the mediate overs. For Bangladesh, Sobhana Mostary provided stableness with a diligent 60 disconnected 108 balls, portion Rabeya Khan injected momentum precocious successful the innings with a almighty 43 from conscionable 27 balls. Their efforts helped the broadside retrieve from a shaky commencement aft losing aboriginal wickets wrong the powerplay. England’s chase, however, began poorly. Amy Jones fell successful the archetypal implicit to Marufa Akter, who struck again aboriginal to disregard Tammy Beaumont for 13.

The aboriginal breakthroughs were followed by leg-spinner Fahima Khatun’s (3/16) duplicate strikes, including that of skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt for 32. This near England successful a precarious position. Fahima continued to use pressure, removing Emma Lamb to marque it 69 for four, earlier Knight steadied the innings with calculated changeable play and composed defence. Her quality to sorb unit and prime boundaries astatine important junctures shifted the momentum firmly backmost successful England’s favour. Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Fahima and Marufa, displayed commendable subject and fight, but Knight’s acquisition yet proved the quality connected a challenging surface.

Earlier successful the day, Bangladesh’s openers had made a agleam start, but regular wickets halted their progress. Sharmin Akhter scored 30, portion skipper Nigar Sultana fell without scoring. England’s bowlers capitalised connected the conditions, maintaining control. The triumph marked England’s 2nd consecutive triumph successful the tournament, pursuing their ascendant 10-wicket triumph implicit South Africa, keeping their run connected a beardown track.The effect besides meant that they leapfrogged India to apical the points array by virtuousness of their superior nett tally rate.