Former captain Heather Knight showcased her trademark resilience with a composed half-century as England overcame a stern challenge from Bangladesh to seal a four-wicket victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup at the Barsapara Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing 179, England were in deep trouble at 78 for five and later 103 for six before Knight anchored the innings with an unbeaten 79 off 111 balls. Her partnership with Charlie Dean, who remained not out on 27 from 56 deliveries, proved decisive as the duo stitched together a vital 79-run stand for the seventh wicket to take the side home with 23 balls to spare. Earlier, England’s decision to bowl first paid off, with the spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone (3/24), Charlie Dean (2/28) and Alice Capsey (2/31) combining to restrict Bangladesh to 178. Ecclestone’s spell stood out for its precision and control as she claimed key wickets through the middle overs. For Bangladesh, Sobhana Mostary provided stability with a patient 60 off 108 balls, while Rabeya Khan injected momentum late in the innings with a powerful 43 from just 27 balls. Their efforts helped the side recover from a shaky start after losing early wickets inside the powerplay. England’s chase, however, began poorly. Amy Jones fell in the first over to Marufa Akter, who struck again later to dismiss Tammy Beaumont for 13. The early breakthroughs were followed by leg-spinner Fahima Khatun’s (3/16) twin strikes, including that of captain Nat Sciver-Brunt for 32. This left England in a precarious position. Fahima continued to apply pressure, removing Emma Lamb to make it 69 for four, before Knight steadied the innings with calculated stroke play and composed defence. Her ability to absorb pressure and pick boundaries at crucial junctures shifted the momentum firmly back in England’s favour. Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Fahima and Marufa, displayed commendable discipline and fight, but Knight’s experience ultimately proved the difference on a challenging surface.
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Earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s openers had made a bright start, but regular wickets halted their progress. Sharmin Akhter scored 30, while skipper Nigar Sultana fell without scoring. England’s bowlers capitalised on the conditions, maintaining control. The victory marked England’s second straight win in the tournament, following their dominant 10-wicket triumph over South Africa, keeping their campaign on a strong track.The result also meant that they leapfrogged India to top the points table by virtue of their superior net run rate.