BIRMINGHAM: Bangladesh defeated debutants Netherlands by six wickets in a low-scoring encounter of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Chasing 140 runs, Bengal Tigers easily passed the target for 4 wickets in 19.1 overs with a valuable contribution from Sharmin Akhtar and dominant batting from openers Juwairia Ferduz and Dilara Akhtar.
Ferdows scored a fluent 50 off 33 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes while Akter scored 26 off 23 balls with a boundary.
Sharmin Akhtar remained unbeaten on 37 off 32 balls with 4 fours while Shorna Akhtar was unbeaten on 18.
Caroline de Lange led the Netherlands bowling with figures of 2/27 from four overs, while the Silver Seagers also picked up a wicket.
Batting first, the Netherlands were restricted to 139/8 in 20 overs, despite a valiant effort led by captain Babet de Leete, who scored a crucial half-century.
De Leete top-scored with 50 off 45 balls with 5 fours, while opener Heather Seegers scored 16 off 13 balls with 2 fours.
Robin Rijke and Iris Zwilling each added 13, and Phebe Molkenbauer scored 11.
In the Bangladesh bowling department, Maruba Akhtar led the attack with figures of 2/31 in four overs, while Fariha Drizna, Sanjita Akhtar Makela, Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni took a wicket each.
For the uninitiated, Bangladesh take on Australia in their next match on June 17 in Leeds, while the Netherlands take on India at the same venue.