Match Recap: England Survive Spin Onslaught

England 182-6 (46.1 overs) | Bangladesh 178 (49.4 overs)

In a gripping ICC Women's World Cup encounter, Heather Knight (79 off 111) orchestrated England's great escape against an inspired Bangladesh bowling attack at Guwahati's spin-dominated track. The defending champions stumbled to 103-6 chasing 179 before Knight's 151-match experience proved decisive in an unbroken 79-run stand with Charlie Dean (27).

Turning Point: Third Umpire Drama

• 15th Over Controversy: Knight survived on 13 when Shorna Akter's diving catch was controversially ruled grounded by TV replays
• Triple Reprieve: England's skipper overturned earlier LBW and caught-behind decisions (DRS)
• Bangladesh's Fury: Captain Nigar Sultana Joty confronted umpires over the contentious call

Key Stats:

• 2.7° average spin – highest in tournament
• 9/10 England wickets fell to spin
• Fahima Khatun's career-best 3-16

Spin Quartet Shines Again

England's slow bowlers continued their dominance:

Bangladesh's Sobhana Mostary (60 off 108) and Rabeya Khan (43* off 27) staged late resistance, but 23 runs from 11.1 overs during the middle phase proved costly.

Expert Analysis

Alex Hartley (BBC TMS):

"England's top-order collapse exposed familiar frailties – they’re playing spin like it’s 1990s county cricket. Knight’s innings was a masterclass in crisis management, but tougher tests await against India’s Kuldeep and Australia’s Wareham."

Nat Sciver-Brunt (England Captain):

"We’ll take the points but need smarter shot selection. That partnership showed our depth – Dean’s composure belied her 23 years."

Road Ahead

England face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday, while Bangladesh take on Australia in Visakhapatnam. With Indore’s flat pitches looming, England’s batting against pace will face fresh scrutiny.