West Indies Women vs Australia Women, 3rd T20I, Bridgetown: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

West Indies Women vs Australia Women, 3rd T20I, Bridgetown: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

West Indies Australia Women

After a fight of some sort in the first T20I, West Indies Women sunk without a trace in the second, losing by 9 wickets to concede the 3-match series to Australia Women. The teams will now take field for the “dead-rubber” third match, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown.

Australia have swept West Indies aside throughout the tour, winning all 3 ODIs convincingly and clinching the T20I series. Only six of their batters got a chance in the ODIs, which perhaps led to a cautious approach in the first T20I.

The bowling looks well-oiled. They have restricted West Indies to 108/4 and 97/9 in the two T20Is (after 130, 157/8, and 180 in the ODIs). Even across formats, none but one of their frontline bowlers has conceded more than 4.22 an over. West Indies have been unable to break the shackles five times in a row, and there is no reason to believe that they will this time.

The best the hosts have put up have been cameos, both with bat and ball, but nothing on a consistent basis. To make things worse, Chinelle Henry, their best bowler in the first T20I, injured herself after sending down 10 balls in the second. Things look really bleak for them at this stage.

Head to head

Australia Women lead 11-1 here including 4-0 on West Indian soil. Their only defeat came in the 2016 World T20 final, when West Indies lifted their maiden trophy.

Key players

Afy Fletcher (West Indies Women): With figures of 8-0-31-2, Fletcher, one of the finest leg-spinners in contemporary cricket, has been the hosts’ standout bowler of the series. Fletcher will have to play a key role if West Indies have to pull off an upset here.

Jess Jonassen (Australia Women): Jonassen had figures of 11-0-59-4 in The Ashes. With 8-1-30-3, she has improved on that here. Having missed out on the Women’s World T20 last year, she will be keen on leaving a mark on West Indian soil.

Likely XIs

West Indies Women: Kyshona Knight, Britney Cooper, Stafanie Taylor (c), Stacy-Ann King, Natasha McLean, Reniece Boyce (wk), Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Shabika Gajnabi, Afy Fletcher, Shamilia Connell.

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt.

Prediction

Australia to cruise to a clean sweep.