Bangladesh avoid upset to edge past Netherlands

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 1, Edgbaston

Netherlands 139-8 (20 overs): De Leede 50 (45); Marufa 2-31

Bangladesh 141-4 (19.1 overs): Ferdous 50 (33); De Lange 2-27

Bangladesh won by six wickets

Scorecard; Table

Bangladesh avoided a scare in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup as they beat the Netherlands by six wickets at Edgbaston.

They made a positive start to their chase of 140 as Juairiya Ferdous and Dilara Akter Dola added 67 for the first wicket before a mini collapse to 85-4.

The Netherlands’ bowlers were in the game until the final over but with only three required, Shorna Akter struck a boundary from the first ball to get over the line.

Shorna and Sharmin Akter Supta added 56 for the fifth wicket and the latter finished unbeaten on 37 after Ferdous’ fifty at the top of the order.

Netherlands spinner Caroline de Lange, who has given up her job as a doctor to play in the tournament, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-27 as she removed set batter Ferdous and Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty for a golden duck.

The Dutch are playing in their first Women’s T20 World Cup and came close to an upset but their batting relied too much on captain Babette de Leede.

De Leede top-scored with 50 but Heather Siegers’ 16 was the next-highest contribution. Established Yorkshire batter Sterre Kalis was bowled by Rabeya Khan for just four.

Both have very difficult games to follow on Wednesday, with Bangladesh taking on Australia and the Netherlands facing India.