England has won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in their Women’s World Cup match in Guwahati on Tuesday. Both teams enter the contest with momentum, having secured convincing wins in their opening fixtures. The match marks only the second time the two nations have met in a One-Day International, with the first encounter also coming during a World Cup in 2022, where England won by 100 runs.
At the toss, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt confirmed her team would field an unchanged XI after their dominant performance against South Africa. "We had a lot of success so everyone is feeling pretty confident," Sciver-Brunt said, adding, "We're starting fresh today." Bangladesh made two changes, bringing in all-rounder Ritu Moni and left-arm spinner Sanjida Akter Meghla to replace Fargana Hoque and Nishita Akter Nishi. Captain Nigar Sultana said the opening win over Pakistan "gives us good confidence moving forward," and stated the team's objective: "We just want to play well with our A-game here."
Both sides recorded similar victories in their first matches of the tournament. England’s spin trio of Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, and Sophie Ecclestone dismantled South Africa for just 69 runs before openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones chased the target in 14.1 overs for a 10-wicket win. Similarly, Bangladesh’s bowlers restricted Pakistan to 129, a total chased down in 31.1 overs for a seven-wicket victory, thanks to an unbeaten maiden fifty from debutant Rubya Haider.
The key challenge for Bangladesh will be its batting depth against a formidable English attack. While England’s middle order, featuring players like Sophia Dunkley and skipper Sciver-Brunt, has not been required to bat yet, it provides significant strength. Bangladesh, in contrast, relies heavily on its top five, including captain Nigar Sultana. On a spin-friendly Guwahati pitch, the matchup between Bangladesh's spinners, led by Nahida Akter, and England's batters could prove decisive.
This rare fixture carries significant weight for Bangladesh, who are aiming to establish themselves on the world stage. Nigar Sultana expressed a desire for her team to perform well "so that teams like England and Australia show interest in playing against us." According to the Future Tours Programme, Bangladesh is scheduled to tour England in 2027, making today's game an opportunity for the team to measure its progress against the four-time world champions.
