England’s Heather Knight transformed a potentially disastrous match into a triumph, overcoming three umpire reprieves to guide her team past a bewildering Bangladesh bowling barrage in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The October 7 clash at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati left fans gobsmacked: England chased 179 but faced 175 dot balls — over 63% of their innings — yet emerged winners with 4 wickets in hand in 46.1 overs.
Bangladesh, batting first, limped to 178 in 49.4 overs, setting a modest target. In reply, England’s pursuit unravelled into a run-starved slog against eight specialist bowlers, who peppered 175 dot balls amid 277 deliveries. The defensive masterclass nearly derailed the chase, until Knight was unceremoniously dropped.
The drama peaked with Knight, who anchored an unbeaten 79 off 111 balls. Caught plumb at 0, 8, and 13, she was rescued thrice by TV umpire interventions, each call a hair’s breadth from doom. “I got out three times and still survived — unbelievable,” Knight quipped post-match, her disbelief mirroring the crowd’s. Without these lifelines, England might have crumbled, handing Bangladesh an improbable upset.
Knight’s grit propelled England to victory, underscoring resilience amid absurdity. As the World Cup intensifies, this thrilling match raises the question: was it tactical skill or pure luck? One thing’s certain — cricket’s quirks keep us hooked.