Stellar Performance by Linsey Smith hands England Women T20 Win Against Bangladesh

Earlier this year, England's left-arm spinner Linsey Smith returned to the T20I side after a five-year hiatus. In England's Women's T20 World Cup opener in Sharjah, Smith set up a low-scoring victory over Bangladesh, with England successfully completing a 21-run win despite Bangladesh's Sobhana Mostary's valiant 48-ball 44.

Despite posting a lowly 118 for 7 in 20 overs on a low and slow surface in Sharjah, England weren't out of the game. The English side packed their XI with all four spinners they took to the UAE, with their fourth-choice spinner, Smith, finishing with figures of 2 for 11 in 4 overs. Smith bowled a wicket-maiden in the fifth over, putting pressure on the chasing side. By the end of the PowerPlay, Bangladesh were at 20 for 2.

Bangladesh's No.3 batter Sobhana Mostary was fortunate early on as Amy Jones missed two opportunities to dislodge her. However, the missed opportunities didn't significantly swing the game in Bangladesh's favour as they trailed heavily, at 42 for 2 in 10 overs. The efforts of Sobhana and Nigar Sultana to press on were halted in the 12th over when the latter was run out. At the end of the 13th over, Bangladesh were at 55 for 4. While Mostary and Taj Nehar kept the run chase alive, Smith bowled her final over which led to the dismissal of Nehar.

The final nail in Bangladesh's coffin came in the 19th over when Dean trapped Mostary leg before, effectively ending the chase. Despite a commendable bowling effort, Bangladesh finished on 97 for 7. Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni each bagged two wickets, contributing to Bangladesh's effort.

England openers Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier started cautiously after Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter showed impressive ball swing. However, they quickly got comfortable and laid a solid platform for England, with 47 runs for no loss in the PowerPlay. Despite holding back during the middle overs, Bangladesh effectively used their bowling discipline to push back. Rabeeya made up for an earlier fielding mistake by catching Bouchier in the seventh over, and leggie Fahima Khatun trapped Nat Sciver-Brunt leg before in the following over.