ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, Match 11 & 12, Group A, Preview – Dominant South Africa and England aim to register consecutive wins

The Proteas Women, in their previous game against England, cruised to the target of 124 runs with two deliveries to spare.

Published - 27 Feb 2020, 13:46 IST | Updated - 27 Feb 2020, 13:46 IST

2 Min Read

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is set to dispense two another exciting matches for fans. South Africa Women will lock horns with Thailand Women in the 11th game of the tournament. The Proteas Women, who thumped England Women by six wickets in their previous match, will be looking to clinch another victory against a relatively inexperienced Thailand side.

The Proteas Women, in their previous game against England, cruised to the target of 124 runs with two deliveries to spare on the back of impressive batting performances from Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp. Skipper Niekerk (46) and Kapp (38) stitched 84-run partnership to guide the Proteas Women to the victory.

After the departure of Niekerk-Kapp duo, it was the crucial 18-run cameo of Mignon du Preez which steered South Africa to the triumph. Du Preez amassed 18 runs in 11 deliveries and hit a four and a six to ensure South Africa Women of a victory. Skipper Van Niekerk was adjudged Player of the Match for her heroics with the bat and the ball. The Proteas Women will be eager to add another victory under their belt to continue their T20 World Cup heist.

Thailand Women, on the other hand, will be aiming to consolidate a win after suffering defeats in their two matches so far in the tournament. In their previous match against England Women, a hapless Thailand Women’s bowling force was smoked by the duo of Sciver (59) and Knight (108) as they posted a massive score of 176/2 on the board.

Coming on to the run chase, hunting down a target of 177 runs was always going to be an uphill task for a naive batting force of Thailand Women. They succumbed to the pressure and posted only 78 runs on the scoreboard in their stipulated 20 overs.

Team Combination

South Africa Women

The batting trio of Niekerk, Lee and du Preez will be aiming to propel South Africa Women to a flying start. Marizanne Kapp also flaunted her batting forte against England Women to propel her side to the victory. Kapp’s presence can be crucial for South Africa Women in their bowling department too. After making her T20I debut almost a decade ago, Kapp has emerged as one of the most successful all-rounders that South Africa Women have ever produced. Skipper Niekerk, who clinched the Player of the Match in her previous match, will also be looking to lead her side from the front.

Predicted 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

Thailand Women

Despite delivering an inconsistent performance against West Indies and England, Thailand will be relying on their batting stalwart Nattakan Chantam to steady their ship. She also emerged as the top-performer for her side against England as she smashed 32 runs off 53 deliveries along with Naruemol Chaiwai, who amassed 19 off 23 deliveries.

Chanida Sutthiruang is another player who can change the course of the match with her all-round abilities. After failing to dazzle in her previous match, the 26-year-old will be hoping to grab eyeballs by delivering impressive performances against the Proteas Women to help her side register the first victory of the tournament.

Predicted XI: Nattakan Chantam, Naruemol Chaiwai, Nattaya Boochatham, Nannapat Koncharoenkai (WK), Sornnarin Tippoch (C), Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Chanida Sutthiruang, Suleeporn Laomi, Soraya Lateh, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Wongpaka Liengprasert.

Head to Head

South Africa Women vs Thailand Women:

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

Focus will be on

Dane van Niekerk

Dan van Niekerk has exhibited prolific form in her recent matches for South Africa Women. She delivered a match-winning performance in her previous match by smashing 46 runs and plucking two wickets in her spell. In a career spanning over 80 T20Is, the 26-year-old has gathered 1822 runs at an average of almost 30. The all-rounder also has 61 scalps under her belt in T20 Internationals.

Nattakan Chantam

Amid the inexperience which is haunting Thailand’s T20 World Cup campaign, Nattakan Chantam will be steering their batting force. In the batting debacle which Thailand Women suffered against England, Chantam emerged as the lone warrior for her side as she amassed 32 runs off 53 deliveries. The 24-year-old batting stalwar has two-half centuries under her belt in 36 T20Is which she has played for Thailand Women.

Stat Attack

85- Marizanne Kapp is 85 runs away from amassing 915 runs for South Africa Women.

10- Dane van Niekerk has 10 T20I half-centuries under her belt while donning the South African jersey in 80 matches.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

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

The second clash of the day will be between England Women and Pakistan Women. England registered a comfortable 98-run victory in their previous game against Thailand. Thailand Women’s bowling force was smoked by the duo as Sciver (59) and Knight (108) remained unbeaten to guide their side to a mammoth total of 176/2.

Anya Shrubsole emerged as the pick of England bowling force as she scalped three wickets in her spell to decimate Thailand Women’s batting force. Skipper Knight was adjudged Player of the Match for her sublime ton as England Women climbed up to the top of the Group B table.

Pakistan Women flagged off their T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note by thrashing West Indies Women. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Women in Maroon posted a total of 124 runs on the board on the back of impressive knock from skipper Stafanie Taylor.

However, it was a comfortable run-chase for Pakistan Women as Muneeba Ali (25) and Javeria Khan (35) stitched sensible knocks to propel Pakistan with a steady start. Post their departure, it was the duo of Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar who rose to the occasion and steered the Women in Green to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

Team Combination

England Women

England will be relying on their skipper Heather Knight to replicate her last match’s heroics. Skipper Knight has been in sublime form lately and has delivered consistent performances with the bat as well as the ball. Moreover, they are also equipped with many prolific batters in their squad including the likes of Natalie Sciver and Danielle Wyatt. Along with contributing to the batting department, Sciver also has the potential to contribute with the ball as well. The bowling force of England Women will be bolstered by the likes of Sciver, Shrubsole and Ecclestone.

Predicted 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

Pakistan Women

Pakistan Women’s prolific batting force, who flaunted a match-winning performance against West Indies Women, consists of Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan and skipper Bismah Maroof. Maroof scored a brilliant 38-run knock to steer Pakistan Women to their first victory of the tournament. The Women in Green also boast a strong bowling force. Diana Baig, Aiman Anwer and Nida Dar scalped two wickets each to curb West Indies Women’s run-flow in the previous match.

Predicted XI: Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof (c), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail Iram Javed, Anam Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Aliya Riaz, Muneeba Ali, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig.

Head to Head

England Women vs Pakistan Women:

Played – 13 | Won by England Women – 12 | Won by Pakistan Women – 1 | Tied – 0 | No result – 0

Focus will be on

Heather Knight (England Women)

Heather Knight is expected to emerge as England Women’s talisman considering her recent form with the bat. She etched her name into the record books in her previous match by becoming the first woman cricketer to smash a ton in all three formats. Boasting an impressive T20I record, the English skipper has amassed 1060 runs in 72 matches and has three half-centuries and a ton under her belt.

Nida Dar (Pakistan Women)

Nida Dar will certainly play a pivotal role in Pakistan’s quest to the T20 World Cup. She also delivered an impressive all-round display against West Indies Women by scalping two wickets and amassing 18 runs.

In a career spanning over 99 T20Is, the bowling all-rounder has scalped 94 wickets along with amassing 1104 runs. She also has a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul under her belt. Despite failing to play a prolonged inning with the bat, Dar has scalped six wickets in her last five games for Pakistan Women. She will be aiming to utilize her BBL experience in order to steer Pakistan to the title glory.