Key events
Nigar Sultana, Bangladesh’s captain, says her side wanted to bat first. They’ve only faced England once before in this format, at the last World Cup: Bangladesh fell to a 100-run defeat, with Sophie Ecclestone taking three for 15 off 10 (!) overs.
The teams
England are unchanged but Bangladesh have opted for a couple: the all-rounder Ritu Moni and left-arm spinner Sanjida Akter Maghla are in.
England: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
Bangladesh: Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sharmin Akhter Supta, Nigar Sultana Joty (c) (wk), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akhter, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sanjida Akter Maghla
England win the toss and choose to field
If it ain’t broke … Nat Sciver-Brunt calls it right and England will bowl first again.
Preamble
It took just 34.5 overs for England to arrive at this World Cup, South Africa stunned in a 10-wicket shellacking. After the misery of the Ashes and defeat at home to India in the summer, this was a required dose of joy for the 2017 world champions.
Linsey Smith’s drifting left-arm spin was key in dismantling the South African top order while Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones strolled through the chase. Funnily enough, such dominance can often lead to less clarity; we still need a glimpse of the rest of the batting lineup to really know where England sit among the contenders.
Bangladesh will look to provide that proper test having opened their campaign with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan. Marufa Akhter, a 20-year-old quick, set that one up with two wickets in the opening over – I’m looking forward to seeing what she can come up with against Beaumont and Jones.
Kick-off is at 10.30am BST – drop me a line with all your various thoughts, queries, musings on life. Cheers!
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