Eight Players to Watch Out for in the Semi-Finals

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Maryam Mallick
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From (L-R) Anya Shrubsole, Smriti Mandhana, Deandra Dottin, Alyssa Healy ©ICC

With the knockout stages of the 2018 edition of the World Twenty-20 just around the corner, there are a few players to keep your eyes peeled for. They have either already put in brilliant performances or, they are just on the verge of doing so. Either way, these players should be watched out for.



Harmanpreet Kaur in action. ©ICC Harmanpreet Kaur in action. ©ICC



Harmanpreet Kaur (India)



Role: Batter



T20I's: 92



Batting Stats: Runs- 1870; Average- 29.27; Best- 103



The Indian skipper set the tone for the World Twenty-20. In the first match of the tournament, she came in to bat with her team struggling at 40-3. She then combined with youngster Jemimah Rodrigues to put on a record breaking stand of 134 runs, while also powering her way to a maiden Twenty-20 century. Her destructive knock of 103 came off just 51 deliveries. Kaur is a big match player and thrives in pressure situations, like her remarkable innings of 171* against Australia, in the World Cup signified. She will be eager to lead her team to their first ever World Twenty-20 title and will do whatever she can to ensure that happens. Kaur's steely determination may mean another unforgettable innings from her is on the cards.



Meg Lanning. ©ICC Meg Lanning. ©ICC



Meg Lanning (Australia)



Role: Batter



T20I's: 83



Batting Stats: Runs- 2256; Average- 33.67; Best- 126



By her standards, the Australian skipper has had a relatively quiet tournament. Her highest score thus far in this WT20 is 41 and she herself admitted in a press conference that she has not contributed as much as she would have liked to. Lanning's exploits with the bat are no secret and she is one of the most feared batters in the international circuit. With her team coming up against the defending champions West Indies in their semi-final, she will want to go in with all guns blazing and deliver for her side to secure their place in the finals.



publive-image Deandra Dottin in action. ©ICC



Deandra Dottin (West Indies)



Deandra Dottin (West Indies)



Role: All-rounder



T20I's: 106



Batting Stats: Runs- 2204; Average- 25.62; Best- 112*



Bowling Stats: Wickets- 55; Economy- 6.15; Average- 17.70; Best- 5/5



Dottin has arguably been the standout player for West Indies in the tournament. She has performed well with both bat and ball but, more so with the ball. We are yet to see the firework display that Dottin shows when she is in good touch with the bat. Considering her score in the previous match was 49, it seems she has found form with the batting so, a trademark Dottin innings may just be around the corner.



publive-image Alyssa Healy in action. ©ICC



Alyssa Healy (Australia)



Role: Opening batter/wicketkeeper



T20I's: 90



Batting Stats: Runs- 1368; Average- 22.44; Strike Rate- 122.67; Best- 90



'Keeping Stats: Stumpings- 41; Catches- 29



Without in-form Healy at the top of the order, Australia's batting order faltered. Should she recover from the concussion she suffered during the match with India, Healy will come back with vengeance. She will be eager to guide her side to the finals with her exploits with the bat. Especially during the Power Play, her aggressive style of batting has greatly benefited her side. She is Australia's player to watch out for because, given the form she is in, a knock bigger than her half-centuries we have seen in this tournament seems imminent. West Indies will be wary of the threat she poses. With three Player-of-the-Match awards already to her name in this tournament, what more can Healy bring to the table? It will be exciting to find out.



publive-image Smriti Mandhana in action. ©ICC



Smriti Mandhana (India)



Role: Opening Batter



T20I's: 51



Batting Stats: Runs- 1012; Average- 22.48; Best- 83



Mandhana came into this tournament on the back of some great form in T20 cricket. Her stint in the Kia Super League in England was particularly impressive, where she was named Player-of-the-Tournament for finishing as the leading run scorer. However, she had a lean run at the beginning of the WT20. It wasn't not until India's match against Australia that she found her footing and recorded a career best score of 83. Now that she has found form, Mandhana will be a massive threat to England, who India face in the semi-final.



Anya Shrubsole in action. ©ICC Anya Shrubsole in action. ©ICC



Anya Shrubsole (England)



Role: Seamer



T20I's: 57



Bowling Stats: Wickets- 81; Economy- 5.45; Best- 5/11



In the absence of Katherine Brunt, Shrubsole and Natalie Sciver have banded well to spearhead England's bowling attack. Shrubsole in particular has impressed with the ball, extracting good swing and troubling the best of the batters. She has been economical and her spells have often swung the game in her sides favour. And of course, who can forget her hat-trick against South Africa.



Tammy Beaumont inaction. ©ICC Tammy Beaumont in action. ©ICC



Tammy Beaumont (England)



Role: Opening Batter



T20I's: 60



Batting Stats: Runs- 878; Average- 21.41; Best- 116



After a brilliant summer at home, Beaumont will be disappointed with how her campaign in the tournament has gone so far. The semi's will be the perfect opportunity for her to fire when it matters most and return to her century smashing form of the summer.



Stafanie Taylor in action. ©ICC Stafanie Taylor in action. ©ICC



Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)



Role: All-rounder



T20I's: 92



Batting Stats: Runs- 2732; Average- 35.49; Best- 90



Bowling Stats: Wickets- 81; Economy- 5.45; Best- 4/12



Lastly, the West Indian captain will be a player to watch out for in the semi-finals. She will want nothing more than to lead her side to their second consecutive title, especially when it's on home soil. To do so, she will want to lead from the front and back up her impressive bowling display against South Africa with an equally memorable batting performance.
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