England edge Bangladesh in a nerve-filling World Cup showdown
England maintained their perfect record at the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Heather Knight’s masterful unbeaten 79 steered the chase, while Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul set the tone with the ball as England’s spinners dominated a tricky surface.
Bangladesh post a competitive total on a challenging pitch
Bangladesh posted 178 all out in 49.3 overs, courtesy of Sobhana Mostary’s polished 60 and Rabeya Khan’s 43 not out. The innings rode on a difficult batting surface where England’s spinners found plenty of grip. Sobhana, supported by Rabeya in a late flourish, steadied the innings after a fast start from Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith had reduced the Tigresses to 25/2 by the sixth over.
Ritu Moni and Shorna Akter contributed smaller cameos as England’s bowlers tightened the screws, with Ecclestone collecting three wickets to deliver a telling blow. The 26-year-old left-arm spinner dismissed Sharmin Akhter and later struck again in a double over, taking her tally to three and leaving Bangladesh at 130/7 with seven overs remaining. Rabeya’s late-overs resistance, including six fours and a towering six, helped Bangladesh post a defendable target but England’s disciplined bowling proved a step too tall to scale.
Breakthroughs and decisive moments with the ball
England’s fielding was sharp, with two stunning catches from Amy Jones behind the stumps proving pivotal as Bangladesh slipped from 85/4 to a far more fragile position. Spin bowling then did the heavy lifting as Deans and Ecclestone strangled the chase, bowling in tandem to derail the Tigresses’ progress and stifle any momentum Bangladesh hoped to build.
In a disciplined spell, Ecclestone’s two successive wickets carried England’s total to three for the game-changer after Sobhana’spatient fifty kept the innings competitive. Capsey’s 2/31 and the rest of England’s bowling unit deserve credit for extracting just enough assistance to restrict Bangladesh to 178, a score that could have grown if not for England’s resilience in the field and on the ball.
England’s reply: a tense chase navigated by Knight
England’s pursuit began on a cautious note as Marufa Akter struck with the first ball against Jones and Sophie Ecclestone, but the visitors steadied the ship with Sciver-Brunt and Knight stitching a measured partnership. The match’s turning point arrived as Fahima Khatun’s trio of quick wickets — including Sciver-Brunt for 32 — pushed England to 78/5, a position fraught with danger for any side chasing a sizeable target in a pressurized World Cup setting.
Charlene Dean (named for the unbroken stand of 79 with Knight) and Knight then steadied the innings, with Dean providing vital support through a composed 40-like partnership as England rebuilt their innings. Knight’s class shone through as she reached a well-deserved half-century and carried England toward the target with precision and poise. Dean’s crisp cover drive sealed the win, delivering a soothing boundary to finish the match with England four wickets to spare and maintain the team’s flawless record in the tournament so far.
What this victory means for England
The win showcases England’s depth in all departments: top-order resilience, a potent spin attack, and game-changing middle-order contributions. Heather Knight’s unbeaten 79 demonstrated leadership and temperament when the chase demanded steadiness, while the partnership with Charlie Dean underlined England’s ability to pace a chase and close out tight matches when the pressure is on. With Sophie Ecclestone’s bowling returning to form in a clinical performance, England sent a strong message ahead of the rest of the World Cup schedule.
Bangladesh can take heart from Sobhana Mostary’s fearless fifty and Rabeya Khan’s late flourish, which highlighted the competitiveness of the Tigers’ batting lineup. The Barsapara surface produced a compelling contest in Guwahati, proving again why women’s cricket continues to capture the imagination and deliver spirited performances on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
