England scrape past Bangladesh in low-scoring affair

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

ENGLAND WOMEN were given a scare by underdogs Bangladesh but ultimately prevailed by 21 runs in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup yesterday.

Bangladesh’s bowlers strangled England’s batters after the latter won the toss and opted to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, restricting them to 118 for seven of their 20 overs.

But in pursuit of a moderate total, Bangladesh lost wickets at key intervals and could only muster 97 for seven when their innings came to an end.

England would have been eyeing a bigger target after openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge posted 48 in seven overs.

But once Bouchier was dismissed for 23 by Rabeya Khan, things went downhill for England.

Bangladesh’s bowling trio of spinners Nahida Akter and Fahima Khatun, along with medium pacer Ritu Moni, shared six wickets evenly between them to stifle England.

Things could have been much worse for England had it not been for player-of-the-match Wyatt-Hodge’s fighting 41 from 40 balls, which helped to prop up the innings as wickets constantly fell around her.

Bangladesh would have been happy with their efforts in the field, but their batters struggled against a disciplined England bowling attack.

Linsey Smith (2-11) and Charlie Deane (2-22) were the main architects, as Bangladesh only managed to hit four boundaries and one six during their entire innings.

The lone bright spark was Sobhana Mostary, who scored 44 from 48 balls, inclusive of one four and the lone six.

In the end, Bangladesh could not keep up with the required run rate of 5.91 and fell well short of the target.