England Overcome Bangladesh by 4 Wickets in Steady Outing
In a match that blended Bangladesh’s dogged resistance with England’s pragmatic pursuit, the visitors secured a four-wicket victory over the hosts in Match 8 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on October 7. Bangladesh, batting first on a hilly pitch offering seam and swing, mustered 178 all out, with Ritu Moni’s gritty 42 the standout in a middle-order scrap, but England’s bowlers, led by Sophie Ecclestone’s 3 for 32, ensured a below-par total. Chasing 179, England wobbled at 103 for 4 before stand-in skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 48 guided them home at 182 for 6 in 46.1 overs, with 23 balls to spare. This composed win kicked off England’s campaign unbeaten, their net run rate at +0.456, while Bangladesh, stung in their opener, slipped to -0.789 NRR, facing the stern test of New Zealand next.
The afternoon fixture, under crisp Himalayan skies with a chill breeze rustling the pines, drew a lively crowd of 12,000, many locals in Tigress tees hoping for a dream start on home turf. The pitch, fresh with grass after overnight dew, assisted the seamers early before settling into a greentop, favoring disciplined batting over flair. Heather Knight’s absence with a minor niggle handed Sciver-Brunt the reins, her calm oversight turning potential pressure into poise, while Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana’s aggressive fields nearly sparked a collapse. As England’s batters punched gloves in the dugout, the tournament’s underdog narrative took shape: Bangladesh’s fight earned respect, but England’s depth proved decisive. With Australia and South Africa looming, this opener set England’s tone—methodical, unflashy, effective.
Sciver-Brunt’s toss loss forced England to field, a twist that played to their bowling strengths on the seaming strip. Bangladesh’s XI leaned on spin depth: Dilara Akter, Fargana Hoque, Nigar Sultana (c & wk), Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Lata Mondal, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, and Jahanara Alam. Rabeya’s leggies targeted England’s left-handers, Marufa’s raw pace the early threat. England, blending youth and nous, fielded: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Emma Lamb, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, and Kate Cross. Cross’s seam over Sarah Glenn’s spin added bounce, Dunkley’s sweep game a counter to Bangladesh’s attack.
Umpires Paul Reiffel and Lauren Agenbag called play amid the mountain air’s crisp bite, Dilara and Fargana striding out to face Cross’s probing lengths in front of the Dhauladhar backdrop.
Bangladesh’s innings ignited with a mix of fortune and fight, their openers surviving early jitters before a top-order slide. Dilara Akter, promoted after Sharmin’s injury, flicked Cross off her hips for four in the second over, her compact stance holding firm. Fargana Hoque joined, nurgling Bell through midwicket, but the English seamers’ accuracy mounted dots: Fargana’s defensive prod off Smith’s inswinger. The powerplay yielded 38 for no loss, boundaries sparse—Dilara’s driven four off Cross a rare flourish—but wides (four early) eased pressure. Bell’s return struck: her outswinger induced Fargana’s edge to Jones in the ninth—22 off 28, Bangladesh 42 for 1.
Nigar Sultana arrived, her skipper’s resolve evident: she swept Dean fine for four, rotating with Dilara amid Ecclestone’s watchful eye from the boundary. Their 35-run stand off 48 balls pushed to 77 for 1 at drinks, Nigar’s 18 off 25 offering stability. But England’s spinners spun a web post-interval: Ecclestone’s left-arm darts deceived Dilara—lbw for 26 off 45, the ball skidding to hit off. Ritu Moni entered, pulling Smith for six over square leg, her intent lifting spirits. Yet, Dean’s off-break trapped Nigar plumb for 22 off 32—112 for 3 in the 25th, the drifter turning in.
Fahima Khatun joined Ritu, their 28-run alliance a scrap: Fahima’s reverse sweep off Ecclestone for four, Ritu’s whipped boundary off Cross. Ritu reached 30 with a lofted drive, but Bell’s bouncer hurried her—top-edged to Dunkley at fine leg for 42 off 58, five fours and a six in a vital knock. At 140 for 4 after 35 overs, Bangladesh eyed 200, but collapse ensued. Nahida Akter scratched 2 before chipping Dean to cover, Lata Mondal holed out to long-on off Ecclestone for 0—140 for 6 in 37th. Marufa’s aggressive 8 off 5—a pulled four off Smith—ended with a stumped dismissal off Ecclestone, Rabeya bowled by Bell’s yorker for 4.
Khatun fought on: her swept six off Dean, reaching 20 off 32, but skied Cross to midwicket for 20. Jahanara Alam (3 off 8) edged Smith to slip, Khatun’s partner Sultana scratched 1 before last out, bowled by Ecclestone—178 all out in 47.2 overs. England’s bowlers dominated: Ecclestone’s 3-32 a classic, Bell 3-38, Smith 2-29. Fielding sharp—Jones’ two stumpings—Bangladesh’s total flattered by 22 extras; Nigar reflected, “Ritu’s 42 was gold, but we lost wickets in clumps.”
England’s reply was a tale of two phases—steady rebuild after early strikes, then controlled acceleration. Beaumont and Jones opened watchfully: Beaumont clipped Marufa through covers for four, Jones’ flicked boundary off Jahanara. The powerplay amassed 42 for 1—Jones bowled by Rabeya’s googly for 18 off 22, the leg-break turning square. Dunkley joined Beaumont, their 38-run stand off 52 balls a platform: Dunkley’s swept four off Khatun, Beaumont reaching 30 off 42 with a driven boundary off Alam. At 80 for 1 after 18 overs, needing 99 off 192, England purred.
Bangladesh’s spinners clawed back: Deepti—no, Khatun’s arm ball trapped Beaumont lbw for 32 off 48—118 for 2 in 26th? Wait, 80 for 2. Capsey arrived, but Rabeya deceived her—stumped off a wide leg-break for 8 off 15, Jones’ gloves? No, Nigar’s. At 88 for 3 after 24 overs, Sciver-Brunt steadied: her straight drive off Sultana for four, nurgling singles with Dunkley. Their 45-run stand off 62 balls eased nerves, Dunkley’s 35 off 52 featuring a pulled six off Marufa. But Alam’s seam induced Dunkley’s edge to Nigar for 35—133 for 4 in 34th, needing 46 off 96.
Lamb joined Sciver-Brunt, scratching amid dots: Lamb’s 9 off 22 ended with a caught behind off Rabeya, 142 for 5 in 38th. Dean arrived, her swept four off Khatun, but holed out to deep midwicket off Sultana for 12 off 18—152 for 6 in 41st, 27 needed off 54. Pressure mounted, but Sciver-Brunt’s class shone: she lofted Rabeya over cover for six, her fifty looming at 40 off 58. Partnering Ecclestone, they rotated: Ecclestone’s nurdled single off Marufa, Sciver-Brunt’s flicked four off Jahanara. At 170 for 6 after 44 overs, nine wanted off 36, Bangladesh’s fields tightened—short leg for Ecclestone’s sweep.
The denouement was calm: Sciver-Brunt’s straight drive for four off Khatun in the 45th, then singles. Needing 3 off 24, Ecclestone nudged one off Sultana in the 46.1st—England home, Sciver-Brunt 48* off 65 (5 fours, 1 six), Ecclestone 10* off 14. Bangladesh’s bowlers toiled—Rabeya 3-42, Khatun 1-35—but leaks (18 extras) hurt; Sciver-Brunt, Player of the Match, said, “Sophie’s wickets set it up; we stayed patient.”
Reflections poured in the chill dusk. Sciver-Brunt beamed: “Bowling first was tough, but our spinners owned it.” Ecclestone added, “3-32 on that hill feels sweet; chase was comfy.” For Bangladesh, Ritu’s 42 a beacon, their attack’s 3.85 economy promising, but batting depth waned—Fargana’s 22 underwhelming. Nigar noted, “We fought, but England’s experience won.”
Implications stirred the pot. England’s opener vaults them third, Ecclestone’s haul her 100th wicket, Sciver-Brunt’s leadership a Knight-lite success. Sri Lanka next: momentum builds. Bangladesh, opener bruised, eye regroup: Ritu’s emergence heartens, Rabeya’s 3-42 youth spark, but NRR bites. New Zealand looms—upset fuel or further fuel?
This outing wasn’t fireworks; it was fine-tuning—England’s machine humming, Bangladesh’s gears grinding. Dharamsala’s peaks watched on, the World Cup’s ascent just begun, with chases like this scripting glory.
