England Women’s World Twenty20 campaign started with a nine-run defeat against West Indies in Sylhet.
Natalie Sciver returned 3-18 and Rebecca Grundy took a wicket on debut, as some superb late bowling restricted West Indies to 133 for seven, despite having been 87 without loss in the 13th over.
England appeared to be on course to chase the total down, reaching 71 for two at the halfway stage, with Charlotte Edwards sharing a 42-run stand for the first wicket with Sarah Taylor.
But, after some disciplined bowling saw the required run-rate creep up, Deandra Dottin caused havoc, taking four wickets - including Edwards six short of a fifty - to reduce England to 97 for seven.
A late rally from Danni Hazell and Anya Shrubsole put their side to within 18 runs of victory ahead of the final over but, after striking a four from the opening delivery, Shrubsole was run out by Merissa Aguilleira and Jodie Dibble was bowled first ball.
Edwards had won the toss and decided to field, but Stafanie Taylor and Kycia Knight made the most of first go on the wicket.
Both openers each hit three fours and two sixes, though while Taylor completed a fifty, Knight fell seven runs short as Jenny Gunn made the breakthrough in the 13th over.
The dangerous Dottin was next in, but she could only add nine before skying the impressive Sciver to Shrubsole at mid-on.
Sciver continued to shine, bowling Kyshona Knight for two before ending Stafanie Taylor’s stay when the Windies opener holed out to Jenny Gunn at the long-on boundary.
Grundy was then rewarded for some fine bowling with her first Twenty20 International wicket, as she cleaned up Shemaine Campbelle to end with 1-20.
Shrubsole completed the laudable recovery with a brilliant final over, having Aguilleira stumped by Sarah Taylor off the opening delivery and castling Shanel Daley next ball.
England’s response got off to a blistering start, with four Edwards boundaries followed up bya couple from Sarah Taylor in the opening two overs. The pair raced along at over eight an over until a mix-up in the middle led to the latter being run out by Dottin on 17.
Lydia Greenway added 14 before falling to Shanel Dale when attempting a second-successive reverse sweep. And that was when West Indies stepped up the pressure, with Sciver struggling to get the ball away before becoming Dottin’s first victim.
Dottin then accounted for Tammy Beaumont at the start of her next over and made it three in three when she returned to oust Edwards for 44.
Heather Knight had six when Tremayne Smartt struck, while Gunn became Dottin’s fourth and final scalp.
Hazell and Shrubsole went on the attack to take England close to a stunning victory, but Shrubsole’s run out put an end to those hopes.
Next up, England face India on Wednesday, where a victory would put their bid for a semi-final place back on track.