Key events
Daniel Gallan
That’s all from me. Pretty comofrtable in the end for England but they’ll know a much-improved show with the bat will be required as they progress.
Keep an eye out for Raf’s report.
Thanks for keeping me company. Til next time.
Finally, Heather Knight, England’s captain, had this to say:
It was really nice to get the win. Conditions were really tough out there, especially for batting and boundary hitting., Really pleasing to get the win.
We weren’t far off par but we’ll be aiming for 135 if we play on that type of wicket again. It’s what we prepared for but we need to find a way. it’s not going to be beautiful and it’s not going to be sexy all the time in these conditions, we’ll have to graft a bit. It got lower and slower as it went on.
We felt like Linsey [Smith] would be effective. It was a tricky decision but we feel it was the right one.
Now from Bangladesh’s skipper, Nigar Sultana Joty:
We missed a good opportunity. Our bowlers did a great job for us, how they started in the powerplay and gained control.
We needed a good partnership and not enough runs in the powerplay. We also gave our wickets away.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge is the player of the match for her 41 in England’s innings.
It was really nice to get out there. Really delighted with the win in tough conditions.
I thought we did really well to get the total. It was low and slow. I don’t think conditions changed much.
Every game is going to be really challenging so it’s important we learn from tonight.
England win by 21 runs as Bangladesh end on 97-7
England defend the lowest score in a T20 World Cup. And it was never in doubt. Brilliant bowling and fielding bailed out a difficult batting performance.
The final over, delivered by Ecclestone, was bouncy and lively, but ended wicketless despite a close stumping call at the end.
That means Fahima ends not-out on 5 with Rabeya on 2.
19th over: Bangladesh 91-7 (Fahima 1, Rabeya 0) A pair of twos to start the over but Dean had her wicket. Mostary had no choice but to throw the kitchen sink at it and perished in the fight.
WICKET! Mostary lbw Dean 44 (Bangladesh 91-7)
A straight ball, a swoosh across the line and a wicket falls! How many times have we seen this today? It’s an umpire’s call after a review that upholds the decision, but that felt out on first viewing. Mostary was on her haunches as she waited to learn her fate. It was a top knock but she needed a mate at the other end.
18th over: Bangladesh 87-6 (Mostary 40, Fahima 1) Mostary looks despondent. She’s run out of partners and has too much left to do. Sciver-Brunt closes out with 1-20 from her four overs with this latest set costing just three singles.
WICKET! Ritu b Sciver-Brunt 2 (Bangladesh 85-6)
And another! You can’t blame Ritu for having a go, but she lacks the ability and composure to land the telling blow. Another ugly swipe across the line ends with the rattle of stumps and the flashing of bails.
17th over: Bangladesh 83-5 (Mostary 38, Ritu 2) Smith signs off with 2-11 from her four overs, including a wicket maiden. A stat has just flashed on the screen that more than 67% of her deliveries would have gone on to hit the stumps. That’s how it’s done. And another good over, worth a wicket and just four singles, could be the one that confirms the result.
WICKET! Taj b Smith 7 (Bangladesh 80-5)
Smith has another! It’s a wild swipe from Taj who charged down the track and completely missed Smith’s straight delivery, but full credit to the bowler. Smith is having a tremendous game.
16th over: Bangladesh 79-4 (Mostary 36, Taj 7) That’s more like it! Mostary leans back and pulls Dean for a mighty six over square leg. A couple off a no-ball add three more to the total and a couple of singles add up to 12 from the over – which is above the asking rate. If they can follow that up in kind they’ll have a sniff.
15th over: Bangladesh 67-4 (Mostary 26, Taj) If all the pitches play like this one, the team with the most powerful hitters will win all the marbles. There were some lovely shots in this Glenn over – Mostary’s cut past point and Taj’s inside out drive over cover – but both lacked the requisite punch to get them to the boundary. Instead they were worth two each. Three singles elsewhere means it’s a decent haul, but nowhere near close enough to what’s needed for victory.
14th over: Bangladesh 60-4 (Mostary 22, Taj 3) Sciver-Brunt returns and almost gets a wicket as Taj goes down the ground and just about clears a diving Gibson at mid-on. That bobbled away for two and there were three singles elsewhere.
13th over: Bangladesh 55-4 (Mostary 20, Taj 0) That required run-rate is now over 9. Clearly I judged England’s batting performance too early. This is plainly a tricky wicket to bat on and England’s bowlers are elite. Another good set from Glenn that cost just one run and picked up a wicket, brings England closer to victory.
WICKET! Shorna b Glenn 2 (Bangladesh 55-4)
Things could fall apart here. Flat, straight and with little turn, Glenn beats Shorna who rocked back and swiped at it without real conviction. By the time she knew it was the slider, her stumps her broken.
12th over: Bangladesh 54-3 (Mostary 19, Shorna 0) An eventful over has Bangladesh’s skipper run-out and England in firm control of this chase. It started with a misfield at point that cost four runs off Mostary’s cutting blade, but with the required rate now above 8, it’s hard to see how England lose it from here.
WICKET! Sultana run-out Smith/Jones 19 (Bangladesh 52-3)
OH NO! That is not what Bangladesh needed! Their skipper has been run-out. Excellent work from Smith who covered ground in a flash and unleashed a perfect throw. Jones had the bails off in a flash and suddenly Bangladesh’s job looks a lot more challenging.
So pleased to see Linsey Smith having a say here. What you get with a robust domestic system – the chance to go down the ladder without it meaning international career over. Quality cricketer. #T20WomensWorldCup
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 5, 2024
11th over: Bangladesh 45-2 (Mostary 14, Sultana 14) Really good from Smith. More of the same – flat, fizzing, wicket-to-wicket. They just can’t get her away. A paddle gets a single and there are two more tucked into the leg side, but that will do England just fine.
10th over: Bangladesh 42-2 (Mostary 12, Sultana 13) Five off the over but the two batters are showing more hustle, running harder and looking for gaps. Dean is accurate and she won’t mind runs coming in ones and twos. Game in the balance with England edging it. A few more overs without a wicket could make things interesting.
9th over: Bangladesh 37-2 (Mostary 8, Sultana 12) The skipper is leading by example. Sultana closes out Glenn’s over by coming out her crease and unfurling a delicious lofted cover drive for four. Earlier she clobbered another boundary down the ground and showed innovation by shifting across her crease and plinking a single down to fine leg. 10 off the over. Much better from Bangladesh but they need a lot more.
8th over: Bangladesh 27-2 (Mostary 7, Sultana 3) Knight is keeping the pressure on with an attacking field. There’s a slip in place and a tight ring of fielders. It means that if a gap is found there are runs to be had. Mostary flashes a drive and gets two through point, but there’s only a single across the over to add to that.
7th over: Bangladesh Mostary 5, Sultana 2) It doesn’t get any easier for Bangladesh as Glenn gets going. Her top-spinners are well placed and she concedes just four singles. The required rate has suddenly leaped to 7.3 an over.
6th over: Bangladesh 20-2 (Mostary 3, Sultana 0) Ecclestone joins the party and is unlucky not to grab a wicket. There’s a missed stumping that Jones couldn’t gather and a thick edge that evades the ‘keeper’s gloves and trickles away for two.
5th over: Bangladesh 17-2 (Mostary 0, Sultana 0) A wicket-maiden in the powerplay, that is quite something. Brilliant from Smith who has found a perfect groove, firing in low, fizzing darts that prove impossible to get away.
WICKET! Rani c Ecclestone b Smith 7 (Bangladesh 17-2)
One brings two! Shathi tries to loft Smith over long-off but doesn’t get enough elevation and also picks out the tallest player on the park. Ecclestone did well to hold on.
4th over: Bangladesh 17-1 (Shathi 7, Mostary 0) Dean has bagged the breakthrough and laid out the blueprint for England’s success. Flat, skiddy, fizz off the deck. More of that and England might make this paltry target look gargantuan.
WICKET! Dilara lbw Dean 6 (Bangladesh 16-1)
That is plumb! Dean comes into the attack and fizzes a full delivery with the seam up and it beats Dilara’s swipe across the line. She doesn’t even contemplate a review. That is dead in front and England have their first.
3rd over: Bangladesh 16-0 (Shathi 7, Dilara 6) Another half-chance goes down. Dilara swipes at Sciver-Brunt but doesn’t time it. Capsey, diving at midwicket, can only brush it with her fingertips. Elsewhere, a swivelled pull down to fine leg is worth two and another hoik across the line bags Shathi a couple of her own down long leg thanks to some brilliant work from Dean at long legwho prevented the boundary. An eventful over ends with a top-edge for four that flies up and over Jones.
2nd over: 7-0 (Shathi 1, Dilara 3) Smith’s sliding off-spinners open the other end and she’s on the money. Good pace through the air around a fourth stump line. She strays down the leg-side, though, and concedes three wides half-way through her set. Otherwise it’s a tidy start.
England will probably defend this but they also don’t really look like a team who are going to a win a World Cup in two weeks time. #T20WorldCup
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) October 5, 2024
1st over: Bangladesh 3-0 (Shathi 1, Dilara 1) Two big chances for England. The first is a tough return catch that burst through Sciver-Brunt’s hands on her follow-through. The second was an unsuccessful review for lbw. Sciver-Brunt was convinced but it was missing Dilara’s leg stump by some distance.
Sciver-Brunt to open. A slip in place and a catcher at short extra cover.
Bangladesh’s openers are ready to go. They have a famous victory within reach.
“A few years ago you’d have thought Alice Capsey would be one of the best batters in the world by now. Just hasn’t kicked on at all.”
A bit harsh, I feel, from Kevin Wilson. Capsey is only 20. Still plenty of her time to reach her full potential.
England post 118-7
20th over: Ecclestone perhaps should have come out earlier. She crunches her first ball for six straight down the ground and then gets another two in the same area.
Jones finishes not-out on 12 but this innings was dominated by Bangladesh’s spinners after a strong opening partnership between Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge.
Will that be enough?
WICKET! Dean st Sultana b Ritu 4 (England 110-7)
Simple as! Fair play to Dean, she had no choice but to force the issue. A skip down the track is followed by a swipe across the line. She never threatened to make contact with it and Sultana, who has been faultless behind the stumps, removed the bails without fuss.
19th over: England 106-6 (Jones 11, Dean 1) It all started so well for England with Gibson swatting a long-hop over point for four. But Fuhima would have the final word as she nabbed Gibson off the outside edge. Jones lofted a couple over cover and then scampered another two.
WICKET! Gibson c Sultana v Akter 7 (England 101-6)
Gibson is gone! After getting spanked for four having dragged down a long-hop, Nahida goes fuller and forces Gibson to drive off the front foot. The England all-rounder loses her shape and can only get a fine edge on it. Sultana, standing up, makes a tough grab behind the stumps look routine.
18th over: England 97-5 (Jones 7, Gibson 3) Miserly once more from Fahima who signs off with 2-18 from her four overs. Outstanding after conceding nine runs in her first over. Between them, Jones and Gibson can only manage a single apiece.
17th over: England 95-5 (JOnes 6, Gibson 2) Marufa puts down a sitter in the deep. Jones came down the track and barely got hold of a slog across the line. Marufa was right there but couldn’t hold on, even after having a second chance after a juggle. That’s harsh on Rabeya who deserved a second scalp. Instead she closes out with 1-15 from her four overs.
16th over: England 91-5 (Jones 3, Gibson 1) Because England have their own arsenal of elite spinners this is not a lost cause just yet, but my goodness haven’t Bangladesh put up a fight! Fahima has been brilliant, teasing with flight and varied lines, she deserves that wicket – her second of the night – and concedes just four runs from that over.
WICKET! Capsey c Akter b Fahima 9 (England 90-5)
GONE! Capsey shakes her head as she departs. Her third attempt at the reverse-sweep is well timed but she couldn’t keep it down. It’s straight at Akter at bacward point who held on well above her shoulders and Fahima dances with delight.
