Having restricted the West Indies to a paltry 108-4 from their 20 overs, the English side’s reply started brightly as captain Charlotte Edwards and Tamsin Beaumont put on 59 for the first wicket.

But once Beaumont was dismissed for 31 off the bowling of Afry Fletcher, England began to collapse.

They fell from 59-0 to 83-6 and then to 101-8 as wickets tumbled and they were left needing seven runs from the final over to secure victory.

Anya Shrubsole, who had taken 1-11 with the ball during West Indies’ innings, smashed a four to ease the tension before she was then bowled by Deandra Dottin.

In a tense finish, England managed to edge over the winning line thanks to a wide, a single from Rebecca Grundy and a bye from the last delivery of the match.

The result gave Edwards’ team their third consecutive success in Group B and they will qualify for the last four if they can overcome Pakistan on Sunday.

The Pakistani women’s case for a last four berth was strengthened as they thrashed Bangladesh, who were already eliminated from the tournament, by nine wickets in Delhi.

Chasing 114 to win, Sidra Ameen hit an unbeaten 53 and Bismah Maroof also chipped in with 43 as they successfully chased down their target midway through the 17th over.

In the other women’s match to take place today, defending champions Australia remain on course for a place in the semi-finals as they earned a comprehensive nine-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in Delhi.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat and appeared to be going well when they reached 75-1 but the Australians fought back with calculated bowling to limit them to 123-8.

After losing opener Alyssa Healy for 12, captain Meg Lanning struck 56 and Elyse Villani smashed 53 as the two shared an unbroken stand of 98 to guide their side to a comfortable victory.

The men’s tournament resumes tomorrow as Australia take on Pakistan in Chandigarh before South Africa face the West Indies in Nagpur.