Sophia Dunkley fires 67 from 72 balls to help England post 234-6, before Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean each take three wickets as Bangladesh are eliminated 134.
England celebrate a wicket on their way to victory over Bangladesh
Defending champions England continued their World Cup resurgence by beating Bangladesh by 100 runs to advance to the semi-finals with their fourth straight victory.
Sophia Dunkley offered 67 of 72 balls after a 40 shot from Nat Sciver as England rallied from 96-4 to finally close out 234-6.
Bangladesh rarely threatened in response and their efforts with the bat were stifled by three wickets apiece to Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean before they were eliminated for 134 after 48 overs.
The result was impressive for England, whose hopes of reaching the semi-finals seemed in doubt after three successive defeats early in the competition’s group stage.
Having chosen to bat, England lost Danni Wyatt (six) and captain Heather Knight (six) narrowly before Tammy Beaumont was next to go down 33 from 69 deliveries after a 60-run partnership with Sciver, who was then caught by Fahima Khatun to leave. his side four wickets down after 26 overs.
Dunkley came on to stabilize the innings again, ripping Bangladesh apart on his way to a 72-run partnership with Amy Jones (31-for-47).
Katherine Brunt (24 out of 22 balls) and Ecclestone (17 out of 11 balls) raised the total after Dunkley’s eventual departure to set Bangladesh on target for more runs than they had ever scored in a singles international. day.
Bangladesh found themselves 96-5 in response as Ecclestone claimed the wickets of three of the top four, Lata Mondal scoring with 30 until Kathryn Cross caught her on Dean’s bowling.
Freya Davies also impressed on her World Cup debut in the absence of the rested Anya Shrubsole, dispatching Rumana Ahmed and Ritu Moni 2-36 in 10 overs.
England captain Heather Knight: “I’m very happy, I probably would have liked a few more runs, 250/260, but the wicket was very slow. And we were clinical with the ball.
“All the batsmen have had a little bit of time out in the middle to get used to the conditions here.
“It says a lot about this group, the way we’ve turned things around. Without getting too down on ourselves, we were on the wrong side of some close ones. I certainly would have bit your hand off a few weeks ago to be in this.” situation.”
The result of India’s clash with South Africa will decide whether England finish third or fourth in the group.
A third place would mean meeting South Africa in the final four, while they would face Australia if they finish behind India, who can only rank above England in net run rate.
