Venue: Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Guyana
After the grand success of the 50-over World in England last year, all eyes are on the upcoming Women’s World T20, which is the first standalone event of its kind. It was India’s win in a must-win league game against New Zealand in the World Cup that triggered interest followed by the semifinal win against Australia. Now India take on New Zealand in the inaugural encounter of the World T20. While India enter the contest with wins in both their warm-up games, New Zealand lost to Windies in their last warm-up match. This could be a potential knockout clash in Group B.
Mandhana, just 22, is the vice-captain of the team. Her recent form has been a big positive for India. She scored 421 runs from nine innings in the recently concluded Kia Super League in England at an average of 60.14 and at a strike rate of 174.68, which included a century, 22 sixes and 45 fours. Her runs took Western Storm to the finals day and made her the first Indian – male or female – to win the player of the series award in an overseas T20 league. Her form will be key to India making into the second round of the World T20 for the first time since 2010. They crashed out in the league stage when the tournament was held last time in 2016 in India.
Sophie Devine ( New Zealand) Role: All-rounder T20Is: 76 Batting stats: Runs – 1710; Average – 27.14; Strike Rate – 123.91; 50s – 7; Best – 73 Bowling stats: Wickets – 72; Economy Rate – 6.07; Average – 16.70; Best – 4/22
Devine, the charismatic all-rounder of the White Ferns, joined the team late because of a wedding in the family. Her ability to bowl four economical overs and play the big shots at the top of the order makes her a vital cog in the team composition. Her opening partnership with Suzie Bates will be one of the big factors for New Zealand to make an impact in the competition after losing the semifinal in the previous edition.
Conditions: The conditions in Guyana suit the spinners, as the pitches are expected to be slow. The first game will be a part of the triple-header, meaning the surface will be a good one for batters.
Numbers to look out for: Bates needs one more wicket to become the second players to pick 50 T20I wickets after Devine who has 72 wickets.
Who said what:
"I think we are looking forward, like, the way we played in the last World Cup we're hoping that we're able to set a decent tone right now" – Harmanpreet Kaur
"I think every game for us is going to be important. I think it's easy to look at that game and probably highlight it as a really important game, but equally we know that, if we're going to be successful in this tournament, we have to win the majority of our games": Amy Satterthwaite
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