With the first match of the ODI World Cup just four days away, defending champions England played their warm-up match against Bangladesh on February 28 (Monday) at Lincoln Green cricket ground in Lincoln.
Batting first, England sent the familiar opening pair of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont. The pair added a quick-fire 81 run partnership off 14 overs, before Nahida Akter dismissed Beaumont for 38. England crossed 100 and lost Winfield-Hill, who brought up her half-century off 37 balls. Captain Heather Knight and vice-captain Natalie Sciver combined for a partnership of 50 runs to take England past 150.
Akter sent DanielleWyatt and Sophia Dunkley packing with back-to-back deliveries and left England at 246 for six. Sciver brought up her century off 97 balls, and she was bowled by Rumana Ahmad in the next over. England scored 310 for nine off 50 overs. For Bangladesh, Akter took three wickets, and she was supported by Ritu Moni and Suraiya Azmin, who took two wickets each.
In reply, Bangladesh opened with Shamima Sultana and Murshida Khatun. The pair got off to a steady start before Khatun was caught by Dunkley off Freya Davies in the sixth over. Sharmin Akhter joined Shamima as the pair survived the powerplay without losing any wickets. Knight handed the ball to her deputy in the 12th over and Sciver removed Shamima with a yorker for 33.
Akhter continued her counter-attack, but Bangladesh continued to lose the wickets from the other end. She remained stranded at the other end when Bangladesh lost the final four wickets for just 26 runs. Akhter survived 137 deliveries and scored 81 runs. She was run out by Dunkley in the final over of the match. Bangladesh were bowled out for 201 as England registered a victory by 109 runs. For England, Sciver, Davies and Charlie Dean took two wickets each.
Brief Score
England 310 for 9 in 50 overs (Natalie Sciver 108, Lauren Winfield-Hill 55; Nahida Akter 3/49) beat Bangladesh 201 all out in 49.4 overs (Sharmin Akhter 81, Shamima Sultana 33; Natalie Sciver 2/12) by 109 runs