ICC Women’s World Cup: Heather Knight guides England to thrilling win over Bangladesh, move top of points table

Heather Knight’s unbeaten 79 from 111 balls helped England claim a second consecutive win in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Tuesday (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Guwahati: A composed and determined Heather Knight once again proved why she is one of England’s most reliable match-winners. The former captain struck an unbeaten 79 off 111 balls to help England overcome a spirited Bangladesh challenge and register a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup at the Barsapara Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing 179, England found themselves in serious trouble at 78 for five and later 103 for six, before Knight steadied the innings alongside Charlie Dean (27 not out off 56). The pair stitched together a crucial 79-run stand for the seventh wicket, guiding England home with 23 balls to spare.

Earlier, England’s spinners dominated proceedings after opting to bowl first. The trio of Sophie Ecclestone (3/24), Charlie Dean (2/28), and Alice Capsey (2/31) combined brilliantly to restrict Bangladesh to 178 all out. Ecclestone’s spell stood out for its control and precision, removing key middle-order batters just as Bangladesh were looking to accelerate.

For Bangladesh, Sobhana Mostary anchored the innings with a fighting 60 off 108 balls, while Rabeya Khan’s blistering 43 off 27 added some late momentum. Despite their efforts, Bangladesh’s innings never truly recovered from early setbacks, as England’s bowlers kept things tight throughout the middle overs.

England’s chase, however, started disastrously. Marufa Akter made early inroads by dismissing Amy Jones in the first over and later sending back Tammy Beaumont for 13. Leg-spinner Fahima Khatun (3/16) further tightened the screws, removing Nat Sciver-Brunt (32) and Emma Lamb, leaving England tottering at 69 for four.

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But Knight’s calm presence in the middle proved invaluable. Showing excellent game awareness, she absorbed the pressure early, rotated strike smartly, and punished loose deliveries to regain control of the chase. Her calculated aggression in the final phase ensured Bangladesh’s bowlers were denied any late drama.

The win marked England’s second consecutive victory in the tournament, following their emphatic 10-wicket triumph over South Africa in the opener. With this result, England climbed to the top of the points table, edging ahead of India on net run rate, as they continue to build strong momentum in their title pursuit.