England Overtakes India in Women’s World Cup Standings After Victory

GUWAHATI: A resilient innings of 79 runs from top-order batter Heather Knight propelled England to a four-wicket triumph over a determined Bangladesh squad. The match, the eighth of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, was held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

In pursuit of a target of 179, the former champions faced a challenging path to victory, ultimately securing the required runs with only 23 balls remaining and having lost six wickets.

Knight, entering the fray early in the second over with the score at 6/1, anchored England’s chase with a courageous performance.

She forged significant partnerships with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who scored 32, and Alice Capsey, who added 20. However, Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal in the 30th over left England in a precarious position at 103/6.

Knight then found solid support in Charlie Dean, and together they guided England to a narrow victory, constructing an unbroken 79-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Knight’s unbeaten 79, which included eight boundaries and a six, came off 111 balls, making her the top scorer. Dean contributed a valuable 27 not out from 56 deliveries.

Fahima Khatun stood out for Bangladesh with impressive bowling figures of 3/16 from her 10 overs. Marufa Akter took two wickets, while Sanjida Akter Meghla claimed one.

After being put in to bat, Bangladesh’s batting lineup struggled to post a total of 178 before being bowled out in 49.4 overs.

Sobhana Mostary, a middle-order batter, led the scoring with a patient 60 off 108 balls, hitting eight fours. Rabeya Khan provided crucial late-order runs with an unbeaten 43 from just 27 balls, including six fours and a six.

Besides them, only Sharmin Akhter (30) and Shorna Akter (10) reached double figures, as the remaining Bangladesh batters struggled against England’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Sophie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone claimed three wickets for 24 runs in her 10 overs. Linsey Smith, Dean, and Capsey each took two wickets, and Lauren Bell added one.

This four-wicket victory elevates England to the top spot in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup standings, surpassing India due to a superior net run rate. Both teams have accumulated four points after playing two matches each.