Bangladesh survived a tense chase to defeat the Netherlands by six wickets in their Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston. The Tigresses successfully hunted down 140, finishing at 141-4 in 19.1 overs, but not before a middle-order stumble that saw them slip from 67-0 to 85-4.

Juairiya Ferdous anchored the innings with a quickfire 50 off 33 balls at the top, while Sharmin Akter Supta remained unbeaten on 37 to steer her side home. The Dutch attack, led by spinner Caroline de Lange who claimed 2-27, kept pressure until the final over. De Lange's decision to quit her medical career for this tournament showed her commitment, and she delivered the goods with both wickets and an economic spell.

For Netherlands captain Babette de Leede, her 50 off 45 balls went in vain as Heather Siegers' 16 was the best supporting contribution. The Dutch side, competing in their maiden T20 World Cup, showed promise but lack batting depth. Both teams now face brutal challenges: Bangladesh takes on Australia while Netherlands meets India on Wednesday.

This opening loss puts Netherlands under immediate pressure in Group 1, while Bangladesh's narrow win exposes vulnerabilities that stronger teams will exploit.