England spinners Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean impressed as the 2009 champions beat Bangladesh by 21 runs in their opening ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match.
Smith claimed two for 11 and Dean two for 22 as Bangladesh struggled in pursuit of England’s 118 for seven, in which Danni Wyatt-Hodge top scored with 41.
Sobhana Mostary made 44 in reply, but her side were unable to build meaningful partnerships and slipped to their first defeat of the competition having beaten Scotland in their opener.
England had to be patient early on after opting to bat, the first boundary of the innings not arriving until midway through the fourth over courtesy of Wyatt-Hodge, who had earlier been forced to dive to make her ground attempting a risky single.
Her opening partner Maia Bouchier received a lifeline when Rabeya Khan put down a simple chance at point with the batter on 16 but Rabeya soon made amends, dismissing Bouchier for 23 as she chipped to mid-on.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight fell for single digit scores and Wyatt-Hodge followed for 41, stumped off the bowling of Nahida Akter, as England slipped to 76 for four at the start of the 13th over.
Nahida, Fahima Khatun and Ritu Moni continued to make inroads, finishing with two wickets apiece, while Rabeya – who conceded just 15 runs from her four overs – could have joined them had Marufa not spilt a high chance when Amy Jones mistimed an attacking shot.
A rare boundary took England to three figures in the 19th over and Sophie Ecclestone struck the penultimate ball of the innings for six to help her side to 118 for seven.
In reply, Dilara Akter survived a review in the first over before being put down by a diving Alice Capsey at mid-wicket as the Bangladesh chase got off to an eventful start.
Dilara was eventually trapped in front by Charlie Dean’s second ball and her opening partner Shathi Rani soon followed as she could not clear Sophie Ecclestone at mid-off from the bowling of Linsey Smith.
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty injected some much-needed momentum into the chase with two boundaries from Sarah Glenn’s first over as Bangladesh stayed in the hunt at the halfway stage, which they reached on 42 for two.
But a key turning point came when the skipper was run out for 15 in the 12th over, Smith’s flat throw beating Joty’s dive as England landed a decisive blow.
Sobhana ensured her side retained a glimmer of hope and hit her side’s only six of the innings on her way to 44 from 48 balls before being trapped in front by Dean, who gained revenge having been on the receiving end of the maximum.
England will look to make it two from two against South Africa on Monday, while Bangladesh are next in action against West Indies on Thursday.
Scores in brief
England v Bangladeash, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
England 118/7 in 20 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 41, Maia Bouchier 23; Fahima Khatun 2/18, Ritu Moni 2/24)
Bangladesh 97/7 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 44, Nigar Sultana 15; Linsey Smith 2/11, Charlie Dean 2/22)
Result: England win by 21 runs
