ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Match 9, India vs New Zealand: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Match 9, India vs New Zealand: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Suzie Bates New Zealand India

India Women avenged their defeat in the Tri-Nation T20 final, just ahead of the big tournament, with a win over Australia in the T20 World Cup opener. They followed this with a win against Bangladesh. They will now play their third match, against New Zealand, who had started with a win against Sri Lanka.

India’s win against Australia was largely due to an incredible spell of leg-spin (4-0-19-4) from Poonam Yadav. She followed this with 4-0-18-3 against Bangladesh. She found support in Shikha Pandey (3.5-0-14-3 and 4-0-14-2). The others in the pack, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma, and Arundhati Reddy, have provided decent support.

Viral fever kept Smriti Mandhana out the Bangladesh match. If she does not return, India are likely to use Taniya Bhatia at the top again, to partner the destructive Shafali Verma. With Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur to follow, the line-up looks formidable.

New Zealand’s win was set up by Hayley Jensen (4-0-16-3) and Amelia Kerr (4-0-21-2), who restricted Sri Lanka to 127/7. New Zealand lost two quick wickets in response, but Sophie Devine (75 not out in 55 balls) continued with her superlative form, guiding her side to what turned out to be, in the end, a comfortable win.

The teams are evenly matched, though Mandhana’s absence may turn things slightly in New Zealand’s favour.

Head to head

Key players

Shafali Verma (India Women): Verma came into the tournament with the reputation of a fierce hitter at the top. She did not disappoint, smashing 29 in 15 against Australia and 39 in 17 against Bangladesh. A whopping 58 of her 68 runs came in boundaries.

Sophie Devine (New Zealand Women): With fifties in each of her last 6 innings (and 8 in her last 9), Devine holds key for New Zealand’s success against India. She has also taken 9 wickets in these 9 matches and has led her side efficiently.

Likely XIs

India Women: Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

New Zealand Women: Sophie Devine (c), Rachel Priest (wk), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr.

Prediction

New Zealand to prevail in a close match.