Venue: Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Guyana
100 years ago, the guns of the First World War fell silent. Today at Providence, Australia will again unleash their artillery of big hitting batters. Three of their batters entered the forties against Pakistan in their first group game. Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney both holed out on 48.
Against Ireland, they will be confident of scoring big and at least one of a strong top seven to put in a score of note.
It will be Ireland’s first game in this year’s ICC World T20. They have are to win a game during their previous World T20s. To open their account at this year's event against the heavy favourites will be a daunting task.
A warm-up victory against Sri Lanka will give them confidence though, considering the comprehensive nature of that win.
Ireland has three players that are used to playing with and against the Australia squad. Celeste Raack is Australian by birth and has played the majority of her cricket there. Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth have taken part in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Players to watch out for:
Ash Gardner
If she can get used to the low slow pitches, then there can be few that can stop her when she has a bat in hand. A player that likes to take on the short ball albeit with the risk of concussion that comes with it. A useful spinner there is no getting away from the fact that she will have some impact on any game.
Kim Garth
A regular wicket-taker in the WBBL, Garth will relish the task of keeping the free-scoring Aussies from running away with things. If her team-mates go with her, there could be a shock on the cards.
Conditions:
The pitch got slower as the day wore on, on day one. It was still good enough to see some decent scores scored on it and still looked flat and even to bat on.
Numbers to look out for:
Alyssa Healy needs 38 runs to become the 3rd woman to score 1,000 runs as keeper in T20Is.
Healy (66) also needs 3 more dismissals to overtake Rachel Priest (68) in 2nd place for most women’s T20I keeping dismissals.
Megan Schutt needs 1 wicket for 50 T20I career wickets. She’ll be the equal 8th fastest woman to that mark if she does it tomorrow, and the 2nd fastest among pace bowlers.
Clare Shillington needs 62 runs to become the first Irish woman to score 1,000 T20I runs.
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