ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, Semi-finals, Preview - Favourites India and defending champions Australia seek the final berth

The journey of Women’s T20 World Cup has finally reached its business end as four teams are slated to contest in the semi-finals to book a berth in the final. In the first semi-final of the day, India Women and England Women will lock horns to cruise closer to laying their hands on the coveted trophy.

The Women in Blue have flaunted an excellent performance so far in all three departments. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. have clinched victories in all four matches that they’ve played so far in the tournament. In their previous match against Sri Lanka, India decimated the Islanders by seven wickets and flaunted a robust batting performance to hunt down the target in 15th over itself. After a strong bowling display by Radha Yadav— scalping four wickets in her spell– Shafali Verma steered India to the triumph with her quick-fire 47-run knock at the top.

Similarly, England have also put up an impressive show so far in their T20 World Cup campaign. The Heather Knight-led side amassed three wins out of four matches to book their berth in the semi-finals.

England Women thrashed West Indies Women in their previous match as they bowled out the Women in Maroon for a meagre total of 97 runs. Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul and Sarah Glenn’s two wickets uprooted the West Indies batting force. Natalie Sciver starred with the bat and scored a brilliant half-century in the first innings to propel her side to a competitive total of 143 runs.

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 Kaur and Co.

All eyes will be on the 16-year-old prodigy Shafali Verma to deliver another impressive performance. The explosive opener has amassed three 30+ scores in her last five matches for the Women in Blue. The bowling department of India will be steered by the likes of Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav, who have delivered match-winning performances so far in the tournament.

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

England Women

England will be relying on their skipper Heather Knight to replicate her prolific run-scoring form. Along with Knight, England will be also relying on the batting forte of Natalie Sciver, who smashed a brilliant half-century in her previous match. England’s bowling force will be steered by Sophie Ecclestone, who has delivered impressive performances lately. Ecclestone has scalped eight wickets in her last five appearances.

Probable XI: Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Danielle Wyatt, Natalie Sciver, Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn

Focus will be on

Shafali Verma

All eyes will be on the prodigy Verma to provide India Women with yet another flying start. She has emerged as the flagbearer of India’s batting force. Her last three scores for India Women are– 47, 46 and 39. She will be eager to propel the Women to yet another explosive start. In a short yet impressive career, the 16-year-old has amassed 485 runs in 18 T20Is including two half-centuries.

Heather Knight

Heather Knight is expected to emerge as England Women’s talisman considering her recent form with the bat. She scipted her name into the record books in Women’s T20 World Cup by becoming the first woman cricketer to smash a ton in all three formats. She has one ton and a half-century under her belt in the previous three matches for England Women. In a career spanning over 74 T20Is, Knight has amassed 1139 runs at a strike rate of 119.26.

Head to Head

Played – 20 | Won by India – 4 | Won by England – 15 | Tied – 0 | No result – 0

Stat Attack

1139 – Heather Knight has amassed 1139 runs in her T20I career including a ton and four half-centuries.

8 – Sophie Ecclestone has scalped eight wickets in her last five appearances for England Women.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings: 03:00 pm (local), 09:30 am (IST)

The second encounter of the day– the second semi-final– will be played between South Africa and Australia. The Proteas Women have not registered a single defeat so far in the tournament. South Africa have won three out of four encounters and one game has been washed out due to rain. They have flaunted strong performances in both the departments so far in the T20 World Cup.

In their encounter against Pakistan Women, the Proteas Women put up a competitive total on the back Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliant half-century. The Proteas batting lineup comprising Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp have delivered match-winning knocks this season in their side’s World Cup heist. South Africa are touted to give defending champions Australia a run for their money in the semi-final.

Australia Women have also boasted an impressive record so far in the tournament. The Meg Lanning-led side won three out of four matches and finished second in Group A table to book a semi-final berth. In their previous match against New Zealand Women, Australia registered a narrow 4-run victory after Megan Schutt’s three-wicket haul dented the Kiwi run-chase. After amassing a competitive total of 155 runs on the back of Beth Mooney’s 60-run knock, the Kiwis could only amass 151 runs in their stipulated 20 overs.

Team Combination

South Africa

The batting trio of Niekerk, Lee and du Preez will be aiming to propel South Africa Women to a flying start. Marizanne Kapp has also flaunted her all-round abilities so far this season. Over the years, Kapp has emerged as a vital cog of the Proteas side. All eyes will on skipper Niekerk to deliver yet another impressive performance with the bat. The South African skipper has two 40+ scores under her belt in her previous five matches along with scalping five wickets.

Probable XI: Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk (C), Marizanne Kapp, Mignon de Preez, Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, Chloe Tyron, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

Australia

Australia Women are equipped with many batting stalwarts who are competent in changing the course of the match at any point of time. A robust top-order comprising Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and skipper Meg Lanning will be aiming to topple the Proteas bowling force. Megan Schutt and Georgia Wareham, who took a three-wicket haul against New Zealand Women in their previous match, will be steering their bowling force.

Probable XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (C), Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardener, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland, Delissa Kimmince, Molly Strano/Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt

Focus will be on

Marizanne Kapp

Kapp has emerged as one of the most successful South African players in this T20 World Cup. Delivering in both the departments, she has scalped six wickets in her past five matches along with mustering 135 runs. Considering her experience, she will be leading the Proteas squad to topple the defending champions in the semi-final.

Alyssa Healy

Wicketkeeper-batswoman Healy has mustered impressive knocks of 83 and 51 in her last four matches for the Australian side. She will be aiming to propel Australia to a flying start along with Beth Mooney and skipper Meg Lanning. In a career spanning over 110 T20Is, she has amassed 1967 runs at a strike rate of 130.43 which includes a ton and 11 half-centuries.

Head to Head

Played – 4 | Won by South Africa Women – 0 | Won by Australia Women – 4 | Tied – 0 | No result – 0

Stat Attack

148 – Alyssa Healy’s highest score in T20 Internationals is 148*.

54 – Marizanne Kapp is 54 runs away from reaching the milestone of 1000 runs in T20 Internationals.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings: 07: 00 pm (local), 1:30 pm (IST)