England’s Spinners Dominate as Wyatt-Hodges Knock Guides Win Over Bangladesh in Their Opening Game in the Women’s T20 World Cup
The England women’s team’s attack delivered an impressive performance as they began their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a 21-run win over Bangladesh in Sharjah. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s gritty 41 off 40 helped England to a modest but competitive score of 118/7 while their spinners, led by Linsey Smith, stifled Bangladesh’s chase, restricting them to 97/7 in a low-scoring contest.
On a slow, gripping surface, England’s bowlers proved tough to get away, with Smith (2-11) playing a key role in Bangladesh’s downfall. Bangladesh’s hopes rested on Sobhana Mostary, who batted bravely for a career-best 44, but it was not enough to haul her side to victory.
England Women: 118/7 (Wyatt-Hodge 41, Fahima 2-18)
Bangladesh Women: 97/7 (Mostary 44, Smith 2-11)
England Women beat Bangladesh Women by 21 runs
England’s Innings: Wyatt-Hodge Lays Foundation
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England’s opening pair of Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier had a steady start, surviving a series of early scares. Bouchier was dropped on 16, but she and Wyatt-Hodge put on a solid opening stand of 48 from 6.4 overs. Wyatt-Hodge, in particular, was the aggressor, driving Fahima Khatun for a couple of boundaries and helping England break free in the powerplay, with 47 runs on the board at the end of the six overs.
However, Bangladesh’s bowlers tightened their grip as the innings progressed. After Bouchier’s dismissal for 18, England lost wickets in quick succession. Nat Sciver-Brunt was trapped LBW by Fahima, while captain Heather Knight was undone by a peach from Ritu Moni that clipped the stumps. Wyatt-Hodge’s departure, stumped off Nahida Akter, left England 76/4 and struggling to accelerate.
Alice Capsey briefly revived England’s hopes with a sweep off Nahida for a boundary, but she too fell soon after, caught in the deep off Fahima. Danielle Gibson and Amy Jones could not provide the late flourish, and despite a six from Sophie Ecclestone in the final over, England finished with a modest total of 118/7.
Bangladesh’s Chase: Mostary Fights Alone
In response, Bangladesh’s chase faltered from the start. Shathi Rani and Dilara Akter both fell in the powerplay, with Akter missing a sweep off Charlie Dean to be LBW and Rani dismissed by Smith at mid-off. At 20/2 after six overs, the pressure was on.
Mostary, who had starred in Bangladesh’s win over Scotland, steadied the ship, taking on England’s spinners with some aggressive strokes. Her stand with captain Nigar Sultana briefly gave Bangladesh hope as they reached 42/2 at the halfway mark. Nigar hit a couple of boundaries, dancing down the track to hit Sarah Glenn for two fours, but her dismissal, run out by Smith, was a major blow to Bangladesh’s chances.
Mostary remained defiant, hitting a six off Dean and forcing England to keep their focus, with 40 runs required from the final four overs. However, the required run rate climbed too high, and the pressure ultimately told. England’s spinners, led by Smith, continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and despite Mostary’s fighting knock, the chase never truly gained momentum.
In the end, Bangladesh fell short, managing only 97/7, and England celebrated an opening win in their World Cup campaign. Despite Bangladesh’s spirited fight, England’s spin attack proved too strong, with the likes of Smith, Ecclestone, and Glenn keeping a stranglehold on the game.
Key Performances
England Women: Danni Wyatt-Hodge 41 (40), Linsey Smith 2-11
Bangladesh Women: Sobhana Mostary 44 (43), Fahima Khatun 2-18
England will take plenty of positives from this victory, with their spin unit firing on all cylinders. Bangladesh, though, will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back in their next match.
