ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, Match 13 & 14, Group A, Preview – Sri Lanka and Bangladesh seek their first triumph of the tournament

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is set to dispense two another exciting matches for fans. In the first encounter of the day, New Zealand Women are slated to lock horns with Bangladesh Women in Match 13 of the tournament.

In their previous match against India, the Kiwi Women suffered a narrow defeat by three runs against Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. After India Women amassed 133 runs on the board, New Zealand Women’s batting force failed to stitch a long partnership in the middle during their run-chase. Kiwi wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals until Amelia Kerr stepped to the crease at the latter stage of the match.

Kerr’s quick-fire knock of 34 runs off just 19 deliveries raised hopes of the New Zealand fans but she was not successful in sailing her side’s ship to the shore. Eventually, New Zealand Women fell short of the target by 3 runs. They will be aiming to register their second victory of the tournament.

Similarly, Bangladesh Women also suffered a defeat against Australia Women after failing to hunt down a massive total of 189 runs. After the Aussie Women notched up a total of 189 runs, Bangladesh Women succumbed to the pressure and gathered only 103 runs on the board in their stipulated 20 overs. After suffering defeat in both their opening games, Salma Khatun and Co. will be eager to register their first victory of the tournament.

Team Combination

New Zealand Women

New Zealand Women will be relying on the prolific form of Sophie Devine. Along with skipper Devine, Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest will bolster the Kiwi Women’s batting force. Amelia Kerr, who almost clinched the previous match from India Women with her quick-fire knock, will be aiming to deliver another impressive performance. The Kiwis also have a formidable bowling lineup which includes Amelia Kerr, Anna Peterson and Lea Tahuhu.

Predicted XI: Sophie Devine (C), Rachel Priest (WK), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jansen, Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr

Bangladesh Women

The Tigresses’ lineup is an experienced one. Murshida Khatun, who has a plethora of experience under her belt, is expected to emerge as their talisman. Fargana Hoque, who scored a sensible 36-run knock against Australia in their previous match, will be hoping to carry on her impressive run.

A hapless bowling force, which was quite evident against Australia, will be the main concern for Bangladesh Women. Skipper Salma Khatun, who has the potential to deliver in both the departments, will be aiming to lead her side from the front.

Predicted XI: Shamima Sultana (WK), Murshida Khatun, Sanjida Islam, Nigar Sultana, Fargana Hoque, Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Salma Khatun (C), Jahanara Alam, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter

Focus will be on

Sophie Devine

Skipper Sophie Devine is the player who holds the potential to change the course of the match single-handedly. Scoring runs at a blistering strike-rate along with scalping wickets at regular intervals– Devine’s match-winning abilities will be crucial in New Zealand’s World Cup heist. She will also be assisted by Amelia Kerr, who grabbed the spotlight with her impressive all-round performance in her last match against India Women.

Rumana Ahmed

Bangladesh Women will be banking on the experience of Rumana Ahmed. The 28-year-old has played as many as 63 T20Is for Bangladesh and has delivered in both the departments. Along with gathering 744 runs, the right-hander has also scalped 55 wickets for her side. After failing to dazzle in her previous match against Australia Women, the veteran will be aiming to deliver an impressive performance to steer her side to their first victory of the tournament.

Stat Attack

89- New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine has hit 89 runs in her last two outings.

6 – Amelia Kerr has scalped seven wickets in her last five appearances for New Zealand Women.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings: 11:00 am (local), 5:30 am (IST)

The second encounter of the day will be played between India Women and Sri Lanka Women. After becoming the first team to qualify for the semi-finals, India Women will be aiming to carry on their prolific World Cup campaign by registering their third win of the tournament. In their previous game against New Zealand, the Women in Blue clinched a narrow three-run victory as impressive batting knock from Shafali Verma and a combined bowling effort steered the Women in Blue to the victory.

Sri Lanka Women, on the other hand, have suffered consecutive defeats in their World Cup campaign. In their previous match against Australia Women, the Islanders suffered a five-wicket defeat. After amassing 122 runs on the scoreboard, the Sri Lankan bowling force couldn’t curb Australia run-flow as the Aussie Women hunted down the target with three deliveries to spare. Sri Lanka Women will be aiming to register their first victory of the tournament.

Team Combination

India Women

After becoming the first team to book a semi-final berth in the tournament, the Women in Blue will be looking forward to carrying on their unbeaten run. The impressive form of their batswoman and a formidable bowling attack will be the biggest positives for Harmanpreet and Co.

All eyes will be on the 16-year-old prodigy Shafali Verma to deliver another impressive performance. Poonam Yadav and Shikha Pandey have also been in red-hot form with the ball. However, one concern for India Women in the woeful form of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

Predicted XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.

Sri Lanka Women

Skipper Atapattu will be heading Sri Lanka in both the departments. She stitched a crucial half-century in the previous match against Australia Women. Along with the skipper, Harshitha Madavi is another prospect who can muster runs in the batting department. Despite failing in the previous match, opener Hasini Perera also possesses the calibre of providing her side with a flying start. Udeshika Prabodhani and Shashikala Siriwardene, who scalped two wickets each against Australia, will be steering Sri Lanka’s bowling force.

Predicted XI:  Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Umesha Thimashini, Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana, Shashikala Siriwardene, Harshitha Madavi, Kavisha Dilhari, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani.

Focus will be on

Shafali Verma (India Women)

All eyes will be on the prodigy Verma to provide India Women with yet another flying start. The 16-year-old has been prolific form lately with her willow. She hit an explosive 46-run knock in her previous match to propel her side to a sublime start. In a career spanning over 17 T20Is, the right-handed batswoman has amassed 438 runs at an impressive strike rate of 147.97.

Chamari Atapattu (Sri Lanka Women)

Chamari Atapattu’s form and experience will play a crucial role in concealing Sri Lanka’s weaknesses. The 30-year-old has played 83 T20Is where she has scalped 26 wickets along with gathering 1583 runs for her national side. The all-rounder has been performing consistently since her last three matches in both the departments and is touted to emerge as Sri Lanka’s talisman against India Women too.

Stat Attack

148 – Shafali Verma has amassed 438 runs in her T20I career at a blistering strike rate of almost 150.

1,2 – Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Atapattu has one ton and two half-centuries under her belt in her T20I career.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings: 03:00 pm (local), 9:30 am (IST)