Tri-Nation T20 Series, Match 6, Australia Women vs England Women: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Tri-Nation T20 Series, Match 6, Australia Women vs England Women: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Australia England Women

The host Australia Women will face England Women for their crucial match in the Tri-nation T20 series at Junction Oval, Melbourne. Australia women need to win the match to qualify for the final pushing behind India thanks to their better net run rate. England virtually booked their seat in the final thanks to their superior net run rate compared to India Women.

Australia lost their last match against India despite a wonderful 57-ball 93 from Ashleigh Gardner. She also got good support from captain Meg Lanning (37) with whom she added 79 runs. India’s chase had a blistering start as Shafali Verma found her rhythm early and raced to 49 off 28 balls. Post Verma’s dismissal Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana who reached her 11th T20I fifty kept the hunt on. With 10 runs required to win Mandhana was gone and Deepti’s sparkling 4-ball 11 ensured India’s victory.

On the other hand, England’s last outing was against India too which they won by four wickets. Mandhana added 45 runs to help India post 123/6. Anya Shrubsole was the highlight of England bowling who ended with 3/31. The chase did not start blissfully for England but in the middle order, Natalie Sciver scored a half-century from 38 balls to stabilize the innings for England. Fran Wilson remained not out with 20 runs and won the match for England with seven balls to spare.

When these two arch-rivals met for the first time in this series the match was stretched to the Super Over. Heather Knight led the batting for England to post 156/4 and in reply, Australia matched the score in 20 overs as Beth Mooney added 65 off 45 and Annabel Sutherland scored 20*.

Thanks to the win in that Super Over, England are the present table toppers with two points from three matches. Both teams technically look equal with Australia having a slight edge, thanks to their solid batting against India. But the bowlers need to come back strongly otherwise England will have another good day.

Head to head

England are leading the tally with 19-16.

Key Players

Ellyse Perry (Australia Women): Arguably world’s best all-rounder Ellyse Perry is in quite a good form in this tournament. She had delivered a Player-of-the-Match performance against Australia’s first match against India by taking 4/13 followed by a brilliant 49 in a difficult pitch to drive the chase. She would be expected to deliver once again to take Australia to the final.

Natalia Sciver (England Women): Natalia Sciver may not be in the same league as Perry as an all-rounder but she has registered a couple of key performances with bat and ball for England in this tournament. Her 50 in England Women’s last match helped their chase and she would hope for another key contribution to carry on her good form.

Likely XIs

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes (c), Jess Jonassen, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt.

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

Australia to win