ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Match 2, West Indies vs Thailand: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Far away from the high-octane tournament opener between Australia and India, West Indies will play Thailand in Match 2 of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup, at Perth. This is likely to be a one-sided encounter, what with West Indies being one of the three sides to have won the tournament and Thailand making their maiden appearance in the tournament.

Having said that, Thailand Women made the most of their first year after ICC granted T20I status to all T20 matches played between countries. They won 21 T20Is in 2019, the most for any side – though admittedly none of them came against a major side.

The big defeat against New Zealand in the warm-up match was overwhelming, but Thailand did not lose heart. Instead, they sought out the New Zealand cricketers, some of whom are legends of the format, asking for advice.

West Indies, on the other hand, have gone downhill since they had won the 2016 edition. They did make it to the semi-finals of the 2018 edition at home, but barring a series win in Pakistan, have done little to inspire confidence since then.

West Indies have three key players in Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, and Anisa Mohammed, but the support cast is not the best. In fact, they were forced to recall Lee-Ann Kirby of Trinidad & Tobago after 11 years.

However, despite everything, they will take field as firm favourites against Thailand.

Head to head

The teams have never met at any level.

Key players

Anisa Mohammed (West Indies Women): Nobody, male or female, has more T20I wickets than Anisa. Her accuracy, guile, and variations make her a formidable adversary for the inexperienced Thai batters.

Nattaya Boochatham (Thailand Women): Just 2 short of the 50-wicket mark, Boochatham has been Thailand’s best player in their first year in international cricket. She is as miserly (economy rate 3.57) as probing, and is, at the same time, their third-highest run-scorer.

Likely XIs

West Indies Women: Britney Cooper, Lee-Ann Kirby, Stafanie Taylor (c), Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell.

Thailand Women: Nattakan Chantam, Nattaya Boochatham, Nannapat Koncharoenkai (wk), Naruemol Chaiwai, Somnarin Tippoch (c), Chanida Sutthiruang, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Soraya Lateh, Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Suleeporn Laomi, Onnicha Kamchomphu.

Prediction

West Indies Women to win easily.