Eng v Ban Women’s World T20 Review: Edwards leads England eves to an easy win

The England women’s cricket team dished out a brilliant all-round performance to beat Bangladesh by 36 runs in a Women’s World T20 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Opting to bat first skipper Charlotte Edwards justified her decision and helped her team post a challenging 153/7 that proved beyond the reach of the Bangladeshi side.

Edwards and Tammy Beaumont gave their team a flying start by playing aggressively from the first over. Their 34-run opening wicket partnership was ended on the first ball of the 5th over after Beaumont lost her leg stump to Bangladeshi skipper Jahanara Alam. Her knock of 18 off 17 balls included 2 fours and a six. Sarah Taylor (9) was beaten in flight by Fahima Khatun and Nigar Sultana did the rest behind the stumps. Heather Knight (1) soon followed the other two to the dressing room by giving a return catch to Tul Kubra as England was reduced to 71/3 in 10.1 overs.

England needed a partnership and Natalie Sciver answered the call by supporting her captain. She kept the scoreboard ticking by rotating the strike and also spanked 2 boundaries in her knock of 27 from 22 balls. She was dismissed by Salma Khatun as England ended the 17^th over on 118/4. Nine runs later, Edwards was stumped by Sultana off Rumana Ahmed for a superb 60 off 51 that featured 7 fours. The 36-year old is a legend in the women’s game and has come a long way since becoming the youngest woman at 16 to have played for England. The hard-hitting opener proved his class and elegance and showed why she is one of the game’s greatest ever.

Alam picked up the wickets of Danielle Wyatt (15) and Katherine Brunt (17) but not before both has smashed 2 boundaries in their stay of 8 balls each. Alam’s spell was an impressive 3/32 off 4 while Kubra bowled 3 economical overs for 1/15.

Bangladesh began their innings on a disastrous note as Brunt and Anya Shrubsole removed both the openers early. Sharmin Akhter (0) was the first to go in the opening over of the innings by Brunt as she lost her leg stump. Ayasha Rahman (2) was caught by Edwards at mid-off off Shrubsole as England reduced the opposition to 14/2 in the 6^th over.

Fargana Hoque and Rumana Ahmed made 19 each, however, failed to increase the run-rate. Danielle Hazel removed Hoque while Ahmed was run-out courtesy an excellent piece of fielding from the English captain who was having a wonderful outing. Bangladeshi keeper Sultana continued her good form and made 35 off 28 including 4 boundaries and a six before becoming Shrubsole’s second wicket. Khatun made an unbeaten 32 off 30 including 4 fours as Bangladesh finished on 117/6 having lost one more wicket in the form of Alam who made 2 off 3 balls. She was dismissed off the final ball of the innings by Jenny Gunn.

Brief Scores:

England Women: 153/7 in 20 overs (C Edwards 60; J Alam 3/320

Bangladesh Women: 117/6 in 20 overs (N Sultana 35; A Shrubsole 2/27)

Player of the Match: Charlotte Edwards (England Women)