Knight's Vital Innings Guarantees England's Narrow Win Against Bangladeshi Side

ICC Women's Global Tournament, Guwahati

Bangladesh Team 178 (49.4 overs): Sobhana 60 (108); Ecclestone 3-24

England 182-6 (46.1 overs): Heather Knight 79* (111); Fahima 3-16

England triumphed by four wickets

Heather Knight's not out 79 guided the English team to a hard-earned four-wicket success over Bangladesh, keeping their winning run in the World Cup tournament in Guwahati.

Chasing a modest 179 to win on a tricky pitch, the England lineup slumped to 78 for 5 and 103 for 6 as their familiar struggles against spin resurfaced.

But, a steady, unbroken partnership of 79 between Heather Knight and Charlie Dean, who scored 27, enabled England achieve their goal in the 47th over of the innings.

Seamer Marufa dismissed top-order batters Amy Jones and Beaumont early with swinging balls, before the key moment came in the 15th over when skipper Heather Knight was awarded a reprieve on 13.

She hit the ball to Shorna Akter at cover, but the TV umpire decided that the player had touched the ball along the turf as she lunged ahead, following Knight also successfully reviewing a catch appeal and an leg before wicket.

After that, she was gritty and composed in her first innings back from a injury, as the side narrowly won a nerve-wracking match that nearly became one of the competition’s major upsets.

Fahima was the instigator of the English batting collapse with three wickets for 16 runs, spearheading an impressive bowling display after their batters had similarly faced difficulties.

England's spinners unsurprisingly excelled, taking nine dismissals between them as the opposition were dismissed for 178 in 49.4 overs.

Ecclestone stood out with 3-24 while Dean, Linsey Smith and Capsy took two wickets each.

There was resolute resistance from Sobhana, who scored 60 from 108 deliveries, before Rabeya Khan added some late and crucial momentum with an not out 43 from 27.

The England squad travel to Colombo to continue their tournament, facing Sri Lanka on Saturday.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: "We did what we needed to do to secure the win. Before the tournament, we discussed as a team that not everything is going to be straightforward and we will require some mental strength in our game. It could have been a bit smoother but we are very pleased."

"The calmness they both showed in a high pressure situation was brilliant. We would have liked to have done it with a fewer wickets down but that is the manner it unfolded in the end."

Bangladeshi skipper Joty: "That was an amazing match, particularly with the way my players battled until the last ball."

"We were perhaps 20-30 runs short on that pitch. Could Rabeya have batted earlier?"

"I wanted the batswomen to bat until the end because we could have got 10 or 12 runs more. They are very young and sometimes not taking the right choices and we aimed to provide them guidance to capitalise in the middle overs."

Former England spinner Hartley: "England must to improve at playing spin. For any rival team, you know you have to deliver as much spin bowling as is possible on the surface you have against this side."