ICC WWC 2017, India Women vs Pakistan Women, Preview: Arch rivals combat as India target 3rd win on the trot

With momentum well in their favor, India will enter the marquee clash against Pakistan as the favorites. A scintillating bowling display from the spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav, backed up by a stellar ton from Smriti Mandhana helped Indian women dismantle their West Indian counterparts in their previous game.

India have registered two big wins in their first two games whereas Pakistan suffered back to back defeats at the hands of South Africa and England. Sana Mir and her ladies have the odds against them and if they let their neighbors take the upper hand, it will be quite a long day on the field for them.

Pakistan have a good enough side to beat anyone, but after the humiliation against England, it will be very tough for them to turn the tables around. India, on the other hand, look solid in every department and are aiming to march into the knock-out stages with a big win against a wounded Pakistani contingent.

Probable XI

India Women

Mithali Raj (c), Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mona Meshram, Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Sushma Verma (wk), Deepti Sharma.

Pakistan Women

Sana Mir (c), Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Sadia Yousuf, Iram Javed, Asmavia Iqbal, Nahida Khan, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Nashra Sandhu, Kainat Imtiaz

Focus will be on

Smriti Mandhana (India)

No prizes for guessing who holds the key in the Indian batting line-up. Smriti Mandhana’s breathtaking century against a solid Windies side spoke volumes of the ability she possesses and the opener will have to deal with the expectation pressure, probably for the first time in her career. With scores of 102 and 90, the swashbuckling southpaw will potentially be a vital cog in the Indian line up.

Sana Mir (Pakistan)

Skipper Sana Mir’s form with the ball is the only good draw back in Pakistan’s previous two games. Though she leaked runs against the English, she currently holds 8th spot in the ODI bowlers rankings for women. Her performances in big matches have always been great over the past few years and Pakistan’s chances of winning the game depend heavily on the wrist spinner’s rendition.

Playing Combinations

India

No one would want to change a winning combination and it would be eye-popping if Mithali Raj prefers to make any changes in the playing XI. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut registered a 100-run partnership in the opening game and will look to continue the purple patch. With Mithali Raj, Deepti Sharma, Mona Meshram and Sushma Verma comprising the middle order, there’s barely any weak point that one can point at.

All time leading wicket taker in ODIs Jhulan Goswami is yet to make the most of the fast-bowler friendly English conditions, but her experience is always crucial for India. Deepti Sharma, Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav gave away just 69 runs in their 30 overs(aggregate) and picked 7 wickets on the whole. If they can pull off anything like this again, it will be a walk in the park for the Indian ladies.

Pakistan

Apart from the half-centuries made by openers Nahida Khan and Ayesha Zafar, their batting lineup has done nothing to boast about in the tournament. Javiera Khan, Nain Abidi and Asmavia Iqbal will have to bring in their experience to combat the Indian spinners, who are on a canter in this tournament. Kainat Imtiaz and Sana Mir are decent batters as well and any notable contribution will do a world of good for their country’s campaign.

After a dismal bowling show against England, Sana Mir will have to lead from the front and she has decent enough bowlers in her arsenal to stand a chance in the game. Her duel with her opposite number Mithali Raj will be a compelling battle to watch out for. Kainat Imtiaz, Asmavia Iqbal and Nashra Sindhu will be the key for their bowling contingent as they have a very tough job of restricting the Indian batters.

Stats Attack

95 – Mithali Raj needs another 95 runs to surpass English stalwart Charlotte Edwards to become the all-time highest run scorer in Women’s ODI cricket history

18 – India have won 18 of their previous 19 One-Day matches

7 – India lost just 7 wickets in their previous four games against West Indies, England, South Africa and Zimbabwe

13 – Pakistani batter Javeria Khan needs another 13 runs to clock the 2000 run mark in ODIs