Knight's Vital Innings Guarantees England's Hard-Fought Win Versus Bangladeshi Side

International Cricket Council Women’s Cricket World Cup, Guwahati

Bangladesh Team 178 (49.4 overs): Sobhana 60 (108); Sophie Ecclestone 3-24

England 182-6 (46.1 overs): Knight 79* (111); Fahima Khatun 3-16

England triumphed by four wickets

Heather Knight's not out 79 steered the English team to a hard-earned four-wicket victory over the Bangladesh squad, maintaining their undefeated run in the Women's World Cup in Guwahati.

Chasing a modest 179 to win on a tricky surface, the England lineup stumbled to 78 for 5 and 103 for 6 as their ongoing struggles against spin bowling resurfaced.

But, a patient, unbeaten partnership of 79 between Heather Knight and Dean, who made 27, enabled England achieve their goal in the 47th over of the innings.

Seamer Marufa Akter removed openers Jones and Beaumont early on with moving balls, before the turning point came in the 15th over when former captain Knight was given a reprieve on 13.

Knight hit the ball to Shorna at cover, but the third umpire decided that the player had touched the ball along the ground as she lunged ahead, following Knight also overturning a catch appeal and an leg before wicket.

From there on, she was determined and disciplined in her first innings following from a hamstring injury, as England narrowly won a nerve-wracking match that could have been one of the tournament's major surprises.

Fahima Khatun was the instigator of the English batting collapse with three wickets for 16 runs, spearheading an impressive bowling display after their batting unit had similarly faced difficulties.

The team’s spinners expectedly dominated, taking nine dismissals between them as Bangladesh were dismissed for 178 in 49.4 overs.

Sophie Ecclestone stood out with three for 24 while Dean, Smith and Alice Capsey claimed two wickets.

They faced stubborn resistance from Sobhana Mostary, who made 60 from 108 deliveries, before Rabeya Khan added some late and crucial momentum with an unbeaten 43 from 27 balls.

England head to Colombo to resume their campaign, facing Sri Lanka on the weekend.

England captain Sciver-Brunt: "We accomplished what we needed to do to secure the win. Before the tournament, we spoke as a group that not every match is going to be straightforward and we will need some resilience in our skills. It might have been a bit better but we are really happy."

"Their composure they [Knight and Dean] displayed in a high pressure situation was brilliant. We would have liked to have done it with a fewer wickets down but that is the way it went in the end."

Bangladesh captain Joty: "It was an amazing match, particularly with the way my girls fought until the final delivery."

"We were maybe 20-30 runs short on that pitch. Could Rabeya have batted earlier?"

"I wanted the batswomen to bat until the end because we could have got 10-12 runs more. Our players are very young and sometimes not taking the right choices and we wanted to provide them knowledge to capitalise in the middle."

Former England spinner Hartley: "England must to improve at facing spin. For any rival team, you know you have to deliver as much spin as is feasible on the pitch you have against this side."