England managed to survive a massive scare from Bangladesh in Match 8 of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 on Tuesday, October 7 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
A game which saw both teams in a neck-and-neck battle eventually ended in England’s favour as Heather Knight’s remarkable innings (79* off 111) under pressure helped her team chase down 179 in 46.1 overs.
Having a low total defend, Marufa Akter got Bangladesh off to a terrific start as she made the new ball talk. The right-arm seamer trapped Amy Jones (1 off 3) in front of the stumps with a sharp in-swinger in the first over. She further had Heather Knight in trouble in her second over, but the English batter was given a reprieve by the third umpire, who found no conclusive evidence of the ball hitting the pad first as it went eerily close to the inside edge.
Akter (2/28, 5 overs) further accounted for Tammy Beaumont in her fourth over, getting her out lbw with another in-swinger, leaving England on 29/1. Knight had another reprieve in the same over, as she successfully overturned the on-field lbw decision in her favour.
After two early blows, England began breathing easy as captain Nat Sciver-Brunt stitched a crucial 40-run stand with Knight and took the team’s score past 60. There was more drama in the game as Knight continued to have the rub of the green on her side with third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan ruling another decision in her favour.
The right-handed batter had hit Fahima Khatun towards Shorna Akter at cover, who completed a terrific diving catch. However, upon seeing the replays, third umpire felt that Akter had grounded the ball and Knight continued to live a charmed life. It didn’t take much for Khatun to create another opportunity as she got the prized scalp of Sciver-Brunt (32 off 41), getting her holed out at mid-wicket.
Fahima Khatun runs through middle order
Three balls later, the wrist spinner further got rid of the in-form Sophie Dunkley for a duck, as she was adjudged lbw on ‘umpire’s call’ after challenging the on-field decision. Khatun was in no mood to stop as Emma Lamb became her third prey after finding Nahida Akter, while trying to clear her at mid-on.
As a result, England were left staring down the barrel on 78/5, further 101 runs adrift of the target. Alice Capsey walked in at number seven and started dealing in boundaries to put the pressure back on Bangladesh. At the other end, Knight stood firm at the crease and gradually built on her innings.
Capsey’s brief cameo ended on 20 (34) as Shanjida Akter Meghla also got her name on the wicket taker’s list, leaving England on 103/6 in 29.3 overs. However, Knight brought her immense experience to the fore and stitched a game-changing partnership with Charlotte Dean to take England over the line.
Earlier, after being put in to bat first, Bangladesh were bundled out for 178 as Sobhana Mostary fought a lone battle down with her remarkable innings of 60 (108). In the end, a late flourish from Rabeya Khan (43* off 27) helped Bangladesh surpass the 170-run mark.