Tri-Nation T20 Series, Final, Australia Women vs India Women: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

After losing a close match to India Women, Australia Women cruised to the final with a 16-run win against England Women in the last match of the league. In fact, they did just about enough to ensure India (-0.071) finished just above England (-0.169) in net run rate.

Unlike their two defeats, one of which was in a Super Over and the other with 2 balls to spare, Australia’s wins were more or less comfortable. Asked to bat in the last match, Australia put up 132/7 thanks to Beth Mooney’s 40-ball 50, Rachael Haynes providing late charge with a 21-ball 24.

It was a low target, but Sophie Molineux (4-0-19-3) and Tayla Vlaeminck (4-0-18-2) restricted England to 116/7. In fact, of their bowlers who bowled a full quota, none of them conceded over 5.25 an over.

Ashleigh Gardner (93 in 57) and Meg Lanning (37 in 22) had starred in the match before that, when Australia piled up 173/5 – this, despite Deepti Sharma’s 4-1-27-2.

India had never chased a target that big, but Shafali Verma (49 in 28) and Smriti Mandhana (55 in 48) got them to an incredible start, helping them race to 70 for no loss in 6 overs. With Jemimah Rodrigues (30 in 19) and Harmanpreet Kaur (20* in 20) both contributing, India pulled off the third-biggest chase in Women’s T20I history.

Despite that, Australia will take field as favourites, given their record over the past year.

Head to head

Australia have won 12 matches to India’s 5, but the teams have won 3 apiece on Australian soil.

Key players

Sophie Molineux (Australia Women): Against England, Molineux emerged from the shadows of Jess Jonassen to strangle the England middle-order. Never shy of tossing the ball up, Molineux deceived both their in-form batters, Nat Sciver and Heather Knight,

Shafali Verma (India Women): The world’s best side, a formidable attack, outstanding fielders, a daunting target – nothing seemed to bother India’s teenage prodigy. Let alone the final, she will be one to watch out for in the T20 World Cup.

Likely XIs

Australia Women: Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Sophie Molineux, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt.

India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Prediction

Australia to win the tournament.