South Africa Women vs New Zealand Women, 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

A 3-0 sweep in the ODIs against New Zealand at their den earned South Africa Women direct entry to the 2021 Women’s World Cup, also to be played in New Zealand. The teams will now face off in 5 T20Is, the first of which will be played at Mount Maunganui.

New Zealand are without captain Amy Satterthwaite, currently on maternity leave and set to miss the World Cup. Her wife Lea Tahuhu, however, is back after missing the ODIs.

However, the big guns – Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rachel Priest, Leigh Kasperek, Katie Perkins, and, of course, Tahuhu – will all be there. It will be interesting to see where Devine and Bates bat, now that New Zealand seem to have zeroed down on Lauren Down and Maddy Green as their opening pair.

South Africa have been boosted by the return of Dane van Niekerk, captain and premier all-rounder, and Chloe Tryon, vice-captain and the most explosive middle-order batter in the world.

While they might not be in the greatest form of late, the current South African team is a roll-call of the who’s who in world cricket: van Niekerk, Tryon, Trisha Chetty, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Mignon du Preez… the list goes on.

This may be a close battle, but the New Zealand batting line-up may turn out to be too explosive.

Head to head

New Zealand hold a 6-1 lead here. The teams have never played on New Zealand soil.

Key players

Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand Women): After a sabbatical of almost a year, Tahuhu is back to spearhead the New Zealand attack. Her pace, variations, and years of experience make him a formidable adversary.

Chloe Tryon (South Africa Women): Tryon’s strike rate of 138, the best in the history of Women’s T20Is, is indicative of how dangerous she can be in the death overs. The left-arm swing bowling is a bonus.

Likely XIs

New Zealand Women: Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (c), Katie Perkins, Katey Martin (wk), Amelia Kerr, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair.

South Africa Women: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk (c), Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas.

Prediction

New Zealand to win a close match.