WWT20: Debutant Gordon inspires England win over Bangladesh

Kirstie Gordon picked up three wickets and Linsey Smith chipped in with one on England debut as a disciplined bowling performance from the side kept Bangladesh to 76-9 in their ICC Women’s World T20 2018 match and set up a seven-wicket win.

With the rain mercifully staying away for most of Monday, 12 November, the match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium at Gros Islet, St Lucia, began only 15 minutes after the scheduled start. Conditions were tricky to bat, and the England pacers made the most of it, with a booming full in-swinger from Anya Shrubsole starting Bangladesh’s downfall.

Ayasha Rahman struck three sixes in her 39 runs, but took 52 balls for it as she found little support from the rest of the line-up. Gordon, the former Scotland international, was the pick of England’s three left-arm spinners, finishing with 3-16.

Salma Khatun, the Bangladesh captain, sent back Danni Wyatt lbw the first ball, and got Tammy Beaumont early as well, but a useful 38-run stand between Nat Sciver and Amy Jones knocked off the bulk of the runs. Rain caused a stoppage at nine overs with England 55-3; when the teams returned with a revised target, the 50-over champions needed just nine more runs.

England, who had their first match washed out, next play South Africa on November 16, while Bangladesh face Sri Lanka on November 14. (ICC)