Guwahati, October 7 — England captain Heather Knight produced a masterclass in calm batting, scoring an unbeaten 79 to guide her team to a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a gripping Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
But the result told only half the story. On a tricky surface that turned from the first session, Bangladesh pushed the three-time world champions to their limits, defending a modest total of 178 with remarkable discipline and heart.
Bangladesh punch above their weight
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Bangladesh’s start was far from ideal. They were reduced to 25 for 2 inside the first six overs as England seamers Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith struck early blows, removing Rubya Haider and captain Nigar Sultana Joty cheaply.
The middle order wobbled further when Amy Jones’s sharp glovework accounted for two more wickets, leaving the Tigresses struggling at 85/4. Yet 21-year-old Sobhana Mostary, one of Bangladesh’s brightest young talents, stood firm. Her composed 60 off 108 balls — her maiden World Cup fifty — brought both stability and resistance to the innings.
As wickets tumbled around her to England’s spinners — who took nine of the ten wickets to fall — Sobhana held her nerve before falling LBW to Alice Capsey. Her partnership with Rabeya Khan, however, gave Bangladesh hope.
Rabeya’s fearless late burst — an unbeaten 43 off 27 balls studded with six fours and a six — pushed Bangladesh to a competitive 178 all out in 49.4 overs.
England’s spin trio dominated proceedings: Sophie Ecclestone (3/24), Charlie Dean (2/28) and Linsey Smith (2/33) spun a web around the Bangladesh middle order, while Capsey’s crucial two wickets sealed the finish.
England’s chase: from panic to poise
Chasing 179, England were rocked early by Bangladesh’s young pace sensation Marufa Akter, who trapped Amy Jones leg-before in the first over and then dismissed Tammy Beaumont to reduce the champions to 29/2.
The Tigresses’ energy was infectious — every wicket celebration thundered across the Guwahati stands. The pressure deepened when Fahima Khatun’s clever spin dismantled the middle order, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs, including the prized scalp of Nat Sciver-Brunt (32). England stumbled to 78/5, their unbeaten record hanging by a thread.
Then came Knight’s moment. Composed, patient, and unflappable, the England skipper stitched together a match-winning unbroken 79-run partnership with Charlie Dean, whose steady 33 anchored the chase. Knight’s cover drives and deft footwork against spin underlined why she remains one of the most dependable batters in world cricket.
Her unbeaten 79 off 115 balls, laced with nine boundaries, guided England to 182/6 in 46.1 overs, sealing their third straight win in the tournament and preserving their 100% record.
Bangladesh’s fighting spirit earns praise
While Bangladesh fell short, their performance won hearts — and respect. Head coach Hashan Tillakaratne praised his team’s fightback:
“We were not far from beating one of the best sides in the world. Sobhana and Rabeya showed the temperament and courage that define this new generation of Bangladesh cricketers.”
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty, despite her early dismissal, said the team had learned valuable lessons. “We fought hard, especially our bowlers. We need to bat deeper, but this performance shows we can challenge the top teams.”
The match reinforced Bangladesh’s growth in women’s cricket — a side once seen as minnows now pushing world champions to their limit.
England’s perspective
England captain Heather Knight, named Player of the Match, admitted her team had been “given a real scare.”
“Bangladesh bowled superbly. It was a test of patience and nerve. Credit to them — they made us earn every run.”
With this win, England remain unbeaten atop Group A, while Bangladesh — though winless so far — have emerged as the tournament’s surprise fighters, proving they are no longer an easy side to beat.
The bigger picture
For Bangladesh women’s cricket, this performance in Guwahati will serve as a reminder that progress often comes in narrow defeats. Their spin strength, improved fielding, and fearless lower-order batting show a team on the rise, capable of competing with — and unsettling — cricket’s elite.
