Missed opportunity to beat a good side: Nigar Sultana on defeat vs England

England Women started their 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 21-run win over Bangladesh in Sharjah on Saturday (October 5). Opting to bat first on a slow deck at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, England put 118/7 on the board at the back of Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 41 off 40 balls. 

In response, Sobhana Mostary fought it out for Bangladesh with 44 off 48. However, a lack of support after a slow start only took Bangladesh to 97/7 in their 20 overs. The next highest scorer for Bangladesh was the skipper Nigar Sultana scoring 15 off 20 balls. 

"We missed a good opportunity to beat a good side. Our bowlers have done a good job, but our batters are disappointed,” said Sultana after the loss.

Bangladesh were at par with England in terms of run-scoring, hitting 40 runs in the middle overs (39) and 37 in the last five overs (33). However, a slow start cost Bangladesh the game. They were only 20/2 after the powerplay, maintaining a run rate of only 3.33 runs per over, compared to England, which finished the first six overs at 47/0. 

The 35-run stand for the third wicket between Mostary and Sultana put Bangladesh back in the chase but the latter got run out in the 12th over. Bangladesh never recovered with the pressure of the mounting required rate. 

“Did not have a good powerplay, gave away wickets,” Sultana assessed.

“This kind of surface, we need to have a good partnership. Me and Sobhana Mostary were having a good partnership but I got out at the wrong time. She has been consistent, hope she does well in the next games,” she added.

The England skipper, Heather Knight, echoed similar thoughts, stating that the 48-run stand for the opening wicket between Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier helped their cause. 

“The conditions were tough for batting and boundary-hitting. Wyatt-Hodge and Bouchier did well. We targeted 135-140, that is what we prepared for. It is not going to be beautiful or sexy in these conditions. The surface got lower and slower,” Knight said. 

The left-arm spinner Linsey Smith set the tone for England’s defence with bowling figures of 2/11 in her four overs (economy 2.75). Besides being economical, she picked the crucial wickets of the opener Shathi Rani (7 off 9) and Taj Nehar (7 off 12). The 29-year-old Smith last played a T20 World Cup game in 2018.

“Smith did well, six years after her last World Cup game. We had a look at what the surface did and what the bounce was like. Smith keeps the stumps in play with her height,” Knight spoke on Smith’s contribution. 

Bangladesh, having won one and lost one, will now face West Indies in Sharjah on October 10. England will clash with South Africa on October 7. 

“South Africa had a convincing game. They are competitive and bring the fire and passion,” Knight said on the challenge ahead. 

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