England scrape past Bangladesh in low scoring affair

DUBAI – England Women were given a scare by underdogs Bangladesh but ultimately prevailed by 21 runs in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

Bangladesh’s bowlers strangled England’s batters after the latter won the toss and opted to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, restricting them to 118 for seven of their 20 overs.

But in pursuit of a moderate total, Bangladesh lost wickets at key intervals and could only muster 97 for seven when their innings came to an end.

England would have been eyeing a bigger target after openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge posted 48 runs in seven overs.

But once Bouchier was dismissed for 23 by Rabeya Khan, things went downhill for England.

Bangladesh’ bowling trio of spinners Nahida Akter and Fahima Khatun, along with medium pacer Ritu Moni, shared six wickets evenly between them to stifle England.

Things could have been much worse for England had it not been for Player-of-the-Match Wyatt-Hodge’s fighting 41 from 40 balls, which helped to prop up the innings as wickets constantly fell around her.

Bangladesh would have been happy with their efforts in the field, but their batters struggled against a disciplined England bowling attack.

Linsey Smith (2-11) and Charlie Deane (2-22) were the main architects, as Bangladesh only managed to hit four boundaries and one six during their entire innings.

The lone bright spark was Sobhana Mostary, who scored 44 from 48 balls, inclusive of one four and the lone six.

In the end, Bangladesh could not keep up with the required run rate of 5.91 and fell well short of the target.

CMC

SCORES

ENGLAND VS BANGLADESH

ENGLAND 118-7 in 20 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 41, Maia Bouchier 23, Amy Jones 12 not out; Fahima Khatun 2-18, Ritu Moni 2-24, Nahida Akter 2-32).

BANGLADESH 97-7 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 44, Nigar Sultana 15; Linsey Smith 2-11, Charlie Deane 2-22).

England Women won by 21 runs.

SRI LANKA VS AUSTRALIA

SRI LANKA 93 for 7 (Nilakshika Silva 29 not out, Megan Schutt 3-12, Sophie Molineux 2-20)

AUSTRALIA 94 for 4 (Beth Mooney 43 not out, Ellyse Perry 17, Sugandika Kumari 1-16).

Australia won by six wickets.

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