ICC Women’s World Cup: England Shines as Bangladesh Crumbles to 178
Ecclestone's wizardry bowls out Bangladesh for measly 178.
In a masterclass of spin bowling that left Bangladesh reeling, England's Sophie Ecclestone stole the spotlight with a mesmerizing 3/24 haul, as the defending champions skittled the hosts for just 178 in their Women's World Cup clash at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Opting to bowl first after a morale-boosting opener against Pakistan, England unleashed a web of wickets that exposed Bangladesh's top-order frailties, setting up a strong platform for their batters.
Bangladesh's innings flickered with promise before crumbling under pressure. Openers Sharmin Akhter and Rubya Haider started aggressively, plundering 14 runs off Lauren Bell's opening over, but left-arm spinner Linsey Smith clamped down at the other end, conceding nothing. Bell bounced back in her third over, claiming Haider's wicket with a mistimed lofted shot that Sophia Dunkley pouched after a diving effort. Captain Heather Knight – wait, no, Natalie Sciver-Brunt – deserves praise for persisting with Bell despite early boundaries from Akhter (30 off 53).
The collapse accelerated when skipper Nigar Sultana, indecisive against Smith's teasing spin, chipped a half-hearted drive straight to Charlie Dean at short cover for a golden duck. In a brutal five-ball burst, Bangladesh lost both openers, slumping to a precarious position amid the echoes of the stadium's tribute to late Assamese icon Zubeen Garg, with the soulful 'Ya Ali' anthem playing intermittently.
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Sobhana Mostary provided some resistance, anchoring with a gritty 60 off 108 balls, partnering Akhter for a crucial 34-run stand laced with elegant strokes. But Ecclestone struck gold in the 16th over, inducing Akhter into a fatal edge to the keeper off a classic left-arm spinner's ripper. As the middle order faltered, off-spinners Charlotte Dean (2/28 from 10 overs) and Alice Capsey (2/31 from 8) piled on the agony, their variations bamboozling the batters.
A late flourish came from No. 9 Rabeya Khan, who blazed an explosive 43 off 27 balls, injecting entertainment and urgency into the innings. Yet, it was too little, too late, as England's spinners – Ecclestone's guile at the helm – wrapped up the innings with professional precision. This clinical display, building on England's tournament momentum, positions them as frontrunners, while Bangladesh grapples with lessons from a top-order meltdown.
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