Tri-Nation T20 Series, Match 4, India Women vs England Women: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

All three teams have won a match out of their first two, leaving all of them level on points. However, Australia Women hold an advantage with the best net run rate of them all (+0.22), followed by India Women (-0.058) and England Women (-0.172), in that order.

The second round of matches will commence with an England versus India encounter, at Junction Oval, Melbourne. India has beaten England in the tournament opener despite Heather Knight’s superb all-round performance (67 in 44 balls, 3-0-20-1).

Rajeshwari Gayakwad (4-0-19-2), drafted in for the injured Poonam Yadav, had set the tone of the day. The Indian top four then all got runs, none more than Harmanpreet Kaur, who finished things off with a 34-ball 42 not out.

Injuries continue to plague India, with seamers Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy as well as uncapped teenage batter Richa Ghosh all joining Poonam in the list.

England then beat Australia in a Super Over, once again thanks to Knight (78 in 45), Nat Sciver (4-0-23-3), and Sarah Glenn (4-0-28-3). India then fought hard before going down to Australia by 4 wickets, Gayakwad once again impressing with 4-0-19-2.

England will be favourites this time, thanks to a stronger middle order and pace attack.

Head to head

Despite the defeat in the first match, England still hold a 14-4 lead.

Key players

Smriti Mandhana (India Women): Twice has Mandhana looked dangerous this time (15 in 10, then 35 in 23); twice has she failed to make it big. Given her track record on Australian soil, she will be England’s biggest threat here.

Heather Knight (England Women): Knight has got runs twice – both at rapid rate – as well as contributed with ball, on the field, and as captain. She will have to play a major role if England have to win here.

Likely XIs

India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

England Women: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield, Freya Davies, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn.

Prediction

England Women to win and take a step closer to the final.