Sobhana Mostary’s fighting knock wasn’t enough as Bangladesh lost their second Group B match at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 by 21 runs to England at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 119, Bangladesh had a sluggish start losing both their openers – Shathi Rani (7) and Dilara Akter (6) – as they were reduced to 17/2 in the fifth over.

Skipper Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary tried to stabilise things and hit a few boundaries meanwhile, Nigar in particular, to take Bangladesh to 42/2 halfway in their innings.

Sobhana survived a close LBW call in the 10th over, which later the replay showed that it would have been given out if England opted to review.

They still needed 77 runs from the final 60 balls at that point.

The partnership was giving Bangladesh hopes but Nigar was run out for 15 soon after the team score reached 50-mark in the 12th over. She smashed two boundaries during her stay.

Shorna Akter (2) did not last long as her stumps were knocked over by Sarah Glenn’s leg spin in the very next over.

The scoring rate dropped significantly in the next few overs as Sobhana failed to accelerate along with Taj Nehar, leaving Bangladesh needing 52 in the final five overs at more than 10 runs per over.  

Sobhana kept on fighting but she did not get enough support from the other end. Taj Nehar (7) and Ritu Moni (2) departed in quick succession.

Her lone fight came to an end when she was trapped LBW for 44 in the penultimate over. The 22-year-old smashed one maximum and one boundary in her innings.

With Sobhana’s dismissal, Bangladesh’s defeat was all but sealed.

They eventually scored 97/7 in their 20 overs, falling 21 runs short of England’s total. This was England’s lowest total defended in Women’s T20 World Cups.

For England, Charlie Dean and Linsey Smith picked up two wickets each. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, after being asked to bowl first, Bangladesh bounced back brilliantly to restrict England to 118/7 after the English openers had put on 48 for the first wicket.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge top scored with 41, but it was the Bangladesh bowlers who shone as evening turned into night in Sharjah, with Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, and Nahida Akter picking up two wickets apiece in an excellent team effort.

Marufa Akter started off with a tight bowling in her first two overs. But England openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge found their way through the powerplay smashing boundaries in almost every over.

Rabeya Khan, who earlier missed a catch in the powerplay, drew first blood by sending Bouchier back to the pavilion for 23.

Bangladesh then got themselves back into the game, picking up key wickets of Nat Sciver-Brunt (2) and Heather Knight (6) – the latter cleaned up by a beauty from Ritu Moni.

Wyatt-Hodge’s sparkling knock ended short of a half-century as she was stumped for 41 off Nahida Akter.

For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni picked up two wickets each while Rabeya picked one.

BDST: 1019 HRS, OCT 06, 2024
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