In the 6th match of Group B of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, played in Sharjah on October 5, 2024, England Women secured a comfortable 21-run victory over Bangladesh Women. After setting a modest target of 119, England’s bowlers, led by Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean, put on a disciplined display, restricting Bangladesh to 97/7 in 20 overs.
England Women struggled to build partnerships after a solid start, but Bangladesh’s batters failed to capitalize on their own bowling efforts, falling short of the target in a slow-paced chase.
England Women’s Innings: A Struggle to Build Momentum
England Women’s batting got off to a promising start, with opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge leading the charge. She anchored the innings with 41 runs off 40 balls, including five boundaries, but struggled to find support from her teammates, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
England’s innings began with a solid 48-run partnership between Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier. Bouchier contributed a quick 23 off 18 balls before she was caught by Nahida Akter off the bowling of Rabeya Khan. However, England’s middle order faltered soon after, with Nat Sciver-Brunt, one of their key players, dismissed for a mere 2 runs, trapped lbw by Fahima Khatun.
Captain Heather Knight also couldn’t stabilize the innings, falling for 6, bowled by Ritu Moni. Wyatt-Hodge held on at one end but fell right after the 12th over, stumped off the bowling of Nahida Akter, leaving England at 76/4. Alice Capsey (9 off 17) and Danielle Gibson (7 off 11) couldn’t add significant runs as England struggled to accelerate.
However, a late cameo from Sophie Ecclestone, who smashed 8 runs off just 2 balls, helped England finish their innings at 118/7 in 20 overs. Amy Jones remained unbeaten with 12 runs off 16 balls, providing stability in the lower order.
Top Batting Performers:
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge (41 off 40): Wyatt-Hodge was the standout performer for England with the bat. She played a cautious yet effective innings, anchoring England’s innings while wickets tumbled around her.
- Maia Bouchier (23 off 18): Bouchier played a quick-fire knock at the top of the order, setting the tone for a strong start before falling to Rabeya Khan.
Fall of Wickets (England):
- 48/1 (Maia Bouchier, 6.4 overs)
- 53/2 (Nat Sciver-Brunt, 7.6 overs)
- 73/3 (Heather Knight, 11.2 overs)
- 76/4 (Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 12.1 overs)
- 90/5 (Alice Capsey, 15.5 overs)
- 101/6 (Danielle Gibson, 18.2 overs)
- 110/7 (Charlie Dean, 19.4 overs)
Bangladesh Women’s Innings: A Stifled Chase
Chasing a modest target of 119, Bangladesh Women found themselves in trouble early on. Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean were exceptional with the ball, dismantling Bangladesh’s top order and maintaining tight lines. Bangladesh lost their first two wickets within the powerplay, with Dilara Akter falling lbw to Dean for just 6 runs, followed soon by Shathi Rani, who was caught by Ecclestone off Linsey Smith for 7.
The key for Bangladesh was Sobhana Mostary, who tried to anchor the chase. She scored 44 off 48 balls, including a boundary and a six, but wickets fell around her, leaving Bangladesh struggling to keep up with the required run rate.
Captain Nigar Sultana looked to form a partnership but was run out for 15 after facing 20 balls, leaving Bangladesh in deeper trouble at 52/3. After her dismissal, Bangladesh’s middle-order crumbled, with Shorna Akter and Taj Nehar failing to make an impact, scoring just 2 and 7, respectively.
As the innings progressed, Bangladesh found themselves falling further behind the required rate. England’s bowlers kept the pressure on, and despite Mostary’s valiant effort, Bangladesh could only manage 97/7 in their 20 overs, falling 21 runs short of the target.
Top Batting Performers:
- Sobhana Mostary (44 off 48): Sobhana Mostary fought hard for her side, playing a controlled innings. Unfortunately, the lack of support from the other end meant she could not guide Bangladesh to victory.
- Nigar Sultana (15 off 20): Nigar Sultana attempted to form a partnership with Mostary but was run out at a crucial juncture, further hurting Bangladesh’s chase.
Fall of Wickets (Bangladesh):
- 16/1 (Dilara Akter, 3.2 overs)
- 17/2 (Shathi Rani, 4.1 overs)
- 52/3 (Nigar Sultana, 11.3 overs)
- 55/4 (Shorna Akter, 12.2 overs)
- 80/5 (Taj Nehar, 16.2 overs)
- 85/6 (Ritu Moni, 17.4 overs)
- 91/7 (Sobhana Mostary, 18.3 overs)
Top Bowling Performances
England Women:
- Linsey Smith (4-1-11-2): Linsey Smith was the pick of the bowlers for England. Her four-over spell was incredibly economical, and her two crucial wickets in the powerplay set the tone for Bangladesh’s struggle.
- Charlie Dean (4-0-22-2): Dean bowled with discipline, picking up two wickets and ensuring that Bangladesh couldn’t build any meaningful partnerships. She struck early and controlled the middle overs effectively.
Bangladesh Women:
- Nahida Akter (4-0-32-2): Nahida Akter was effective with her spin bowling, picking up two crucial wickets, including that of Danni Wyatt-Hodge. She kept England’s batters under pressure despite conceding a few runs.
- Fahima Khatun (4-0-18-2): Fahima Khatun’s spell was economical and impactful, as she picked up the vital wickets of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey, keeping England’s middle order in check.
Player of the Match: Linsey Smith
Linsey Smith was rightly named the Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling performance. Her figures of 4-1-11-2 were instrumental in stifling Bangladesh’s chase, as she applied consistent pressure right from the start. Smith’s ability to take early wickets and her tight economy rate made the difference in a low-scoring match. She was pivotal in ensuring that England’s below-par total of 118 was defended successfully.
Conclusion
England Women’s 21-run victory over Bangladesh Women in this Group B encounter was a testament to their resilience, especially with the ball. Despite a modest total on the board, England’s bowlers, led by Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean, made sure Bangladesh never gained any momentum in their chase. While Sobhana Mostary put up a fight with her 44, Bangladesh’s middle and lower order couldn’t handle England’s disciplined bowling, leading to their second defeat in the tournament.
