Linsey Smith and Charlotte Dean has lead the England team to a victorious start
England scored 118/7 in 20 overs, where as Bangladesh scored 97/7 in 20 overs.
So, finally England beat Bangladesh by 21 runs.
England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, who made a return to the T20I side earlier this year after a five-year absence, was instrumental in setting up England’s narrow victory over Bangladesh in their Women’s T20 World Cup opener in Sharjah.
Despite a valiant effort from Sobhana Mostary, who scored a 48-ball 44, Bangladesh fell short, handing England a 21-run win.
On a sluggish Sharjah surface, England remained competitive despite posting a modest 118 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Opting for a spin-heavy attack, England fielded all four spinners available, and it was Smith, the fourth-choice option, who starred with figures of 2 for 11 from her four overs.
Smith’s impact was immediate, delivering a wicket-maiden in the fifth over after Bangladesh had lost opener Dilara Akter to Charlotte Dean.
This further stifled Bangladesh, who crawled to 20 for 2 by the end of the Power Play.
Mostary, coming in at No.3, received some early fortune when England’s wicketkeeper Amy Jones missed a stumping and a catch, allowing the batter to settle in.
However, despite England failing to review a close LBW shout in the ninth over, Bangladesh remained behind at 42 for 2 after 10 overs.
Mostary, along with Nigar Sultana, attempted to accelerate the innings, but Sultana’s run-out in the 12th over—thanks to Smith’s sharp throw from deep square leg—slowed Bangladesh’s progress.
In the following over, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn bowled Shorna Akter, reducing Bangladesh to 55 for 4.
Mostary and Taj Nehar tried to stabilize the chase, with Mostary even hitting a six off Dean in the 16th over.
However, Smith returned for her final over to remove Nehar, dealing a severe blow to Bangladesh’s hopes.
Dean then effectively sealed the game by trapping Mostary LBW in the 19th over.
Bangladesh eventually ended on 97 for 7, unable to capitalize on their bowlers’ commendable effort.
Bangladesh’s bowling unit, led by Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni—who took two wickets each—had kept England in check.
England openers Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier began cautiously as Marufa Akter extracted early swing.
Wyatt-Hodge was given a reprieve when Rabeeya Khan dropped her at point, allowing the openers to reach 47 without loss in the Power Play.
However, Bangladesh hit back with disciplined lines.
Rabeeya made amends by dismissing Bouchier in the seventh over, and Fahima trapped Nat Sciver-Brunt leg before shortly after.
Wyatt-Hodge found the long-on boundary, but Bangladesh’s tight bowling dried up the runs.
Nahida stumped Wyatt-Hodge in the 13th over, triggering a collapse that saw England lose three wickets for 14 runs.
Danielle Gibson’s boundary helped push England past the 100-run mark, and a late six from Sophie Ecclestone ensured England’s total proved just enough in a low-scoring contest.
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