Post by : Rameen Ariff

England Women defeated Bangladesh Women by four wickets in Guwahati in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Heather Knight, the former England captain, played a match-winning innings of 79 not out off 111 balls, guiding England to chase a target of 178 runs with 23 balls to spare. Her calm and composed batting under pressure proved crucial in securing England’s second win in the tournament.

Put into bat, Bangladesh Women faced disciplined bowling from England. Sophie Ecclestone led the spin attack, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Charlie Dean (2/28), Alice Capsey (2/31), and Linsey Smith (2/33) supported with tight spells. Sobhana Mostary top-scored for Bangladesh with a careful 60 off 108 balls, and Rabeya Khan contributed a quick 43 not out, helping her team reach 178 before being bowled out. Despite their efforts, Bangladesh’s batting lacked momentum to post a bigger total as England’s bowlers consistently applied pressure.

Chasing 179, England had a shaky start. Early wickets fell as Marufa Akter and Fahima Khatun bowled economically, reducing England to 29/2 in seven overs and later 103/6, keeping the match competitive. Nat Sciver-Brunt provided some stability with 32 runs, but wickets continued to fall at the other end, increasing the pressure on the middle and lower order.

With England struggling at 103/6, Heather Knight took control. She reached her 28th ODI half-century and, together with Charlie Dean, forged a crucial 79-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Knight’s composed strokeplay, along with Dean’s innings of 27 not out, guided England to victory confidently, finishing with 23 balls remaining.

Heather Knight was awarded Player of the Match for her match-winning innings. With this win, England Women now have two wins in two matches, topping the points table along with India based on net run rate. Bangladesh will aim to recover in their next game against New Zealand, while England faces Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Both team captains praised their players for strong performances. England’s victory highlighted the team’s ability to handle pressure in crucial situations, while Bangladesh showed resilience despite the loss. The match also showcased the growing competitiveness in women’s cricket, with tactical bowling, disciplined batting, and strategic partnerships shaping the result.

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