Cricket

‘Can’t say I’ve been reprieved three times before’

PHOTO: AFP

Heather Knight's unbeaten 79 guided England to a hard-fought four-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ICC Women's World Cup match in Guwahati yesterday. 

The seasoned campaigner Knight, who was sacked as captain after a disastrous Ashes tour last winter, had luck on her side in an innings that could easily have gone pear-shaped. Not once, not twice, but thrice she was reprieved, each time thanks to the decision review system.

Yet to get off the mark, she survived an lbw verdict that was overturned on review. On eight, another lbw decision went her way.

Then, on 13, Knight chipped tamely to cover and even began the long walk back before the third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan ruled the fielder had not completed the catch cleanly, despite describing the replays as "inconclusive". The England skipper admitted even she was surprised.

Third time lucky, the 34-year-old made it count.

"Can't say I've been out three times (the other two were overturned LBWs) and been reprieved in an innings -- that's a new one for me," Knight said after the match. "I thought it carried and thought it was a fair catch, which is why I walked off. The third umpire decided otherwise."

The reprieve proved crucial as Knight anchored England's chase of 179, stitching a 75-run stand with Charlie Dean after the four-time champions were reeling at 103 for six by the 30th over.

Reflecting on the chase, Knight said: "We made it a little bit hard for ourselves, but the main thing in World Cups is to get those wins. It didn't feel easy at the start… Bangladesh were very threatening."

She also reserved praise for Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter. "She's a very good bowler. She gets that late inswing and really challenged us up front. Luckily, I got a couple of reprieves."

The win was England's second of the tournament, while Bangladesh suffered their first defeat despite another spirited display.
 

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