Dubai: The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 continues on Friday with four teams starting their campaign in the tournament’s group stage.
India battle it out against two-time runners up New Zealand in Group A and South Africa take on 2016 winners West Indies in a crucial Group B clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
An important contest in Dubai as the No.3-ranked side in the world (India) takes on the No.4-ranked New Zealand in what will prove critical to both teams hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
India looked to be in good touch during the warm-up matches as they registered impressive victories over the West Indies and South Africa, while New Zealand split their games against the Proteas (win) and England (loss).
Both teams boast a strong top-order, with the likes of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma from India matched by Kiwi counterparts in Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr.
India boast plenty of depth in their batting line-up, and both teams have some good bowling options, with spin likely to play a major part in deciding who comes out on top, an ICC report said.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, “Every day I’m going and learning and getting experience from every game. People around me are helping me, they are working hard to make our team go at that level where we want to be. I am happy with where our team is, how our team is working hard to achieve small things.”
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said, “We’ve got a number of young fast bowlers coming through. Their development has been massive the last 12 to 18 months, so certainly looking forward to seeing what sort of bowlers they can turn into.”
India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia (subject to fitness), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan. Travelling reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor. Non-Travelling reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra
New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
South Africa will be looking to go one step further than their runner-up finish at last year’s T20 World Cup and will be keen to start their tilt with a victory first-up against a strong West Indies outfit.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt will be crucial for the Proteas at the top of their batting order, while West Indies counterpart Hayley Matthews is the No.1 ranked all-rounder in T20I cricket and is sure to play a big role with both bat and ball.
The return of Deandra Dottin to the international fold boosts the West Indies’ firepower, but the experience and guile of South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp provide the Proteas with an equally effective threat in the middle-order and with the new-ball.
This looms as a tight clash between two sides that will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said, “I think T20 cricket is such a fickle format. I think obviously last year (2023 T20 World Cup), last time was great, but we’re just looking to take it one game at a time. Obviously a very difficult pool, but hopefully we can make semi-finals and then anything can happen from that.”
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said, “Every series you play, every training session you have is towards that goal of a World Cup, so (preparation) definitely is a long process, and I think this is one that as a West Indies team, we’ve had in our sights for a very long time.”
South Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon. Travelling reserve: Miane Smit
West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vc, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton
The World Cup will see 23 matches held in total over 18 days, with all matches in the two host cities of Dubai and Sharjah.
