Bangladesh edge out Netherlands in Women's T20 World Cup opener 2026

Bangladesh women’s team secured a six-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their opening ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group 1 match at Edgbaston.

Match overview at Edgbaston Bangladesh started their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a closely fought win against the Netherlands at Edgbaston. The contest saw the Dutch set a target of 140 runs for the visitors to chase. Bangladesh managed to surpass the score with just nine balls remaining, avoiding a potential upset on their tournament debut. The game featured tight bowling and key batting performances from both sides, setting the tone for the group stage. ## Netherlands batting struggles The Netherlands finished their innings with 139 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. Babette de Leede led the scoring with 50 runs off 45 deliveries, while Heather Siegers contributed 16 runs. Sterre Kalis managed just four runs before being dismissed by Rabeya Khan. The Dutch batting depended heavily on de Leede’s efforts as the rest of the lineup failed to build substantial partnerships. ## Bangladesh’s successful chase Bangladesh reached 141 runs for four wickets in 19.1 overs to secure the victory. Juairiya Ferdous top-scored with 50 off 33 balls, while Sharmin Akter Supta remained unbeaten on 37. Shorna Akter hit a boundary from the first ball of the final over to seal the win with three runs required. Dilara Akter Dola added 67 runs for the opening stand before a middle-order collapse saw the score drop to 85-4. ## Key bowling highlights Marufa claimed two wickets for 31 runs, while Rabeya Khan took one wicket for 23 runs. Caroline de Lange, who resigned from her medical career to compete, was Bangladesh’s most effective bowler with figures of 2-27. Her dismissals included Ferdous and Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty for a golden duck. The Dutch spinner’s performance kept her team competitive until the final stages of the match. ## Upcoming fixtures The Netherlands will face India next, while Bangladesh moves on to play Australia in their second group match. Bangladesh’s victory sets up a challenging encounter against the tournament favorites. Both sides now prepare for tougher tests in the coming days. The group stage continues with high stakes for all teams involved.