Knight steers England to victory over Bangladesh after early scare

A watchful half-century from Heather Knight helped England overcome a spirited bowling effort from Bangladesh, securing a hard-fought four-wicket win in Guwahati. Bangladesh managed only 178 but battled well with the ball, though England's batting depth saw the four-time champions through to their second win of the tournament. Knight scored an unbeaten 79 off 111 and was involved in an unbroken 79-run stand for the seventh wicket with Charlie Dean to take England over the line and to the top position on the points table.

There was plenty of drama at the start of England's chase. Amy Jone got a reprieve when Bangladesh didn't review an lbw shout, but fell soon after - trapped in front by Marufa Akter. Marufa put down Tammy Beaumont off Nahida Akhter and then Heather Knight used the DRS to reverse an on-field decision of caught-behind in Marufa's over, much to the dismay of Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana. Beaumont and Knight then struck regular boundaries to get England going but the former's stay was cut short by Marufa who dismissed her lbw, with Bangladesh on the right side of a review this time. In the same over, Knight reversed an lbw decision by referring it upstairs. Nat Sciver-Brunt then struck three fours in a Marufa over, as England moved to 45/2 after 10.

Sciver-Brunt did most of the scoring in her partnership with Knight, who was playing a watchful innings and also got a lucky break. Shorna Akter took a diving catch in Fahima Khatun's over but the third umpire gave the benefit of doubt to Knight. The 40-run stand, off 73 deliveries, came to an end when Sciver-Brunt chipped a Khatun delivery straight to midwicket to depart for 32. Sophia Dunkley was out lbw in the same over as England slipped to 69/4. It became 78/5 a short while later as Khatun had Emma Lamb caught at mid on - this time the third umpire ruled that Nahida's catch was taken cleanly.

Knight's first 25 runs came at a strike rate of under 40 but Capsey kept England going with a couple of boundaries as they reached 100 in 28 overs. But England got into more trouble as Shanjida Akter Meghla trapped Capsey in front, reducing them to 103/6. Knight finally started finding the boundaries and received solid support from Dean as she got to an 86-ball fifty. On the other hand, the absence of Marufa from the field wasn't helping Bangladesh as the seventh wicket pair helped England past 150 and raised a half-century stand in the 41st over. The batters saw off Khatun, who finished with excellent figures of 3 for 16, before taking England to the target in the 47th over, with Dean hitting the winning boundary.

Earlier, asked to bat first, Sharmin Akhter gave Bangladesh a good start, scoring the bulk of the runs in the opening stand with Rubya Haider, including three fours in the third over off Lauren Bell. England, however, hit back quickly - Haider mistimed a lofted shot off Bell and Sultana offered a catch to cover to give Linsey Smith a wicket in her first over. This was followed by a quiet passage of play as Bangladesh got to 31/2 after 10 overs.

Sobhana Mostary looked to lift the tempo, finding boundaries regularly, including three in an over off Sciver-Brunt. But just as the momentum began to shift, Sharmin was caught behind off Sophie Ecclestone. Mostary and Shorna tried to steady the innings, but their progress was halted when Dean struck with her first wicket, drawing a faint top-edge from Shorna. What followed was another quiet passage of play. Ritu Moni managed just 1 off 24 balls, Mostary also slowed down, and Bangladesh crawled to 92 for 4 with 20 overs remaining - having added only 16 runs between overs 21 and 30.

Bangladesh went 61 balls without a boundary before Mostary struck two successive fours off Sciver-Brunt in the 31st over. Meanwhile, Moni's struggle - a 36-ball 5 - came to an end when she found the deep midwcket fielder trying to clear the fence off Dean. Mostary, who got a reprieve on 49, brought up her maiden ODI fifty but Bangladesh went through another phase without boundaries - this time for 63 balls. Mostary ended the drought with a four off Alice Capsey in the 42nd over but Bangladesh also started losing quick wickets and were eventually bowled out. That they managed to cross 175 was thanks to Rabeya Khan's cameo as she blasted a 27-ball 43 not out which included six fours and a six.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 178 in 49.4 overs (Sobhana Mostary 60, Rabeya Khan 43*; Sophie Ecclestone 3-24, Charlie Dean 2-28) lost to England 182/6 in 46.1 overs (Heather Knight 79*, Nat Sciver-Brunt 32; Fahima Khatun 3-16, Marufa Akter 2-28) by 4 wickets.