England beats Bangladesh to make World Cup semifinals

WELLINGTON

England cruised into the Women’s World Cup semifinals with a crushing 100-run victory over Bangladesh in its final group stage match in Wellington yesterday.

It sealed a dramatic resurgence for the defending champion, which had been on the brink of elimination after losing its first three matches in the 50-over competition. It then won all of its remaining four games to secure a place in the top four.

The comprehensive win saw them overtake the West Indies to join top qualifiers Australia and South Africa in the knockout stage.

England lost wickets at regular intervals in the first half of its innings and was 96 for four before Sophia Dunkley, who scored 67, led a middle-order charge to get the score up to a defendable 234 for six.

Bangladesh found it difficult to score against a tight England attack, averaging just 2.79 runs per over until it was all out for 134 with 12 balls remaining.

Player-of-the-match Dunkley faced just 72 deliveries, scoring eight fours, and featured in a 72-run partnership with Amy Jones (31) for the fifth wicket and then put on 43 with Katherine Brunt (24 not out) for the sixth wicket. Salma Khatun, who took the prized England wickets of Heather Knight for six and Nat Sciver for 40, finished with two for 46.

Bangladesh never threatened to get near the English total despite a safe start by Shamima Sultana and Sharmin Akhter who put on 42 for the opening wicket. It was tied down by a penetrating England bowling attack led by Sophie Ecclestone who took three wickets in her 10 overs for a miserly 15 runs, while Brunt, although wicketless, conceded only seven runs from her five overs.