Bangladesh lose to England in Women’s T20 World Cup

Spinners Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean took two wickets apiece as England defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs for a winning start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign on Saturday.

England’s strategy to play four spinners paid dividends as the 2009 champions restricted Bangladesh to 97-7 on a slow track in Sharjah as they managed to defend their lowest total in T20 World Cups.

England had made 118-7, riding on a 40-ball 41 by opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary played a lone hand for Bangladesh, making 44 off 48 balls, including a huge six off Dean over deep square leg.

The result was a disappointment for Bangladesh, who won against Scotland in the tournament opener on Thursday for their first T20 World Cup win in a decade.

‘We missed a good opportunity to beat a good side. Our bowlers did a good job but our batters disappointed,’ said Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana.

‘On this kind of a surface, we needed to have a good partnership. We did not have a good powerplay, we gave away wickets.’

England, who chose to bat first, started off cautiously before Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier (23) opened up to play some memorable shots.

AFP