ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, Match 7 & 8, Group B, Preview- England, Thailand and Pakistan hunt for their first win of the tournament

The electrifying journey of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 continues as England Women and Thailand Women lock horns in Match 7 of the tournament. Both England and Thailand, after losing their opening match of the tournament, will be aiming to retaliate and register the first victory in their T20 World Cup heist.

England Women, in their previous match, lost to the Proteas Women in the last over after they hunted down the target of 124 runs with two balls to spare. Apart from Natalie Sciver’s commanding half-century, no other England batswoman was successful in propelling their total to the 140-run mark.

A hapless bowling display also resulted in a loss for Heather Knight and Co as England Women were left reeling against the batting brilliance of Dane van Niekerk (46) and Marizanne Kapp (38). Sophie Ecclestone was the lone bowler for England who was able to put some pressure on the Proteas Women. She scalped two wickets while conceding 19 runs in her spell.

Thailand Women also suffered a thumping defeat in their opening encounter against West Indies Women. An experienced Thailand side could amass only 78 runs on the board in their stipulated 20 overs while the Men in Maroon hunted down the total in the 17th over and cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win. Despite being underdogs, Thailand Women will be aiming to topple a robust England Women squad and clinch their first triumph of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Team Combination

England Women

England Women are equipped with many match-winning players in their arsenal. Natalie Sciver, who smashed a brilliant half-century against South Africa Women, will be heading their batting force along with the likes of skipper Heather Knight and Danielle Wyatt. Skipper Knight has been in sublime form lately and has delivered consistent performances with the bat as well as the ball. Moreover, she has a vast experience of playing 101 ODIs and 71 T20Is under her belt.

Sophie Ecclestone will be steering England Women’s bowling force. She has been delivering impressive performances and has scalped seven wickets in her past five matches.

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

Thailand Women

Thailand Women are a mix of youth and experience. Despite delivering an inconsistent performance against West Indies Women in all the departments, Thailand will be relying on their batting stalwart Nattakan Chantam, who has smashed two half-centuries in her previous five matches. Nannapat Koncheroenkai, who was the best performer for her side against West Indies, will hope to replicate her performance. She scored a composed 33-run knock amid the batting debacle which Thailand Women suffered from.

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 England Women.

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.

Focus will be on

Heather Knight (England Women)

Skipper Heather Knight is expected to emerge as England’s talisman. Despite failing to deliver impressive performances lately, the 29-year-old has a plethora of experience under her belt and can contribute in both the departments. In 71 T20Is, she has amassed 952 runs including three half-centuries along with plucking 20 wickets. She is expected to bolster England Women’s batting force along with Sciver and Wyatt.

Nattakan Chantam (Thailand Women)

Amid the inexperience which is haunting Thailand’s T20 World Cup campaign, Nattakan Chantam will be steering their batting force. In 34 T20Is, Chantam has amassed 603 runs including two half-centuries at an average of 22.33. Despite failing in her last three games, the right-handed batswoman has the potential to turn the tables in Thailand’s favour against a formidable England squad.

Head to Head

England Women vs Thailand Women:

Played – 0 | Won by England Women – 0 | Won by Thailand Women – 0 | Tied – 0 | No result – 0

Stat Attack

7- Sophie Ecclestone has scalped seven wickets in her last five outings for England Women.

3- England skipper Heather Knight has three half-centuries under her belt in a career spanning over 71 T20Is.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

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

The second clash of the day will be between Pakistan Women and West Indies Women. West Indies Women, after annihilating Thailand Women in their opening fixture, will be hoping to deliver a similar performance against the Women in Green too. Thailand Women, taking their inexperience into consideration, could only amass 78 runs on the board against West Indies Women.

Skipper Stafanie Taylor emerged as the talisman for West Indies Women as she scalped three wickets while conceding only 13 runs in her spell. Coming on to the run-chase, the Women in Maroon were in no haste to finish the match as they hunted down the target in the 17th over. Skipper Taylor dazzled with the bat too as her 26-run innings assisted her side to clinch their opening fixture of T20 Women’s World Cup 2020.

Pakistan Women, on the other hand, will be stepping to the field for the first time in this edition of T20 Women’s World Cup. In the absence of experienced Sana Mir, Pakistan Women will be relying on players like Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof to steer their batting force. Despite failing to deliver consistent performances in the shorter format lately, the Women in Green will be hoping to put up a robust show against West Indies.

Team Combination

West Indies Women

Along with skipper Taylor, West Indies also have Lee-Ann Kirby and Shemaine Campbelle in their batting arsenal. All-rounder Deandra Dottin is another player who can change the course of the match on her own. Besides Dottin, many bowling stalwarts like Shamilia Connell and Lee-Ann Kirby will also be aiming to make their presence felt.

Predicted XI: Hayley Matthews, Lee-Ann Kirby, Stafanie Taylor (C), Deandra Dottin, Chedean Nation, Shermaine Campbelle (WK), Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Anisa Mohammed.

Pakistan Women

Skipper Maroof will be an integral part of Pakistan batting force considering her vast experience. Donning the Pakistan jersey in 106 T2oIs, the southpaw has mustered 2183 runs including 11 half-centuries. Her forte isn’t limited to the willow as she also has 36 scalps under her belt. Nida Dar, who scripted history by becoming the first Pakistan player to play Women’s BBL a few months ago, is anticipated to lead their bowling force.

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

Focus will be on

Stafanie Taylor (West Indies Women)

Skipper Stafanie Taylor will be heading West Indies Women in both the departments. Considering her performance in the previous match, Taylor will undoubtedly be a vital cog for the Women in Maroon ahead of the match. Having a vast experience under her belt, the 28-year-old has played 100 T20Is and has amassed 2900 runs along with scalping 84 wickets. Her presence in the side will be an added advantage for West Indies Women throughout the T20 World Cup 2020.

Nida Dar (Pakistan Women)

Nida Dar will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in Pakistan’s quest to the T20 World Cup. In a career spanning over 98 T20Is, the bowling all-rounder has scalped 92 wickets along with amassing 1086 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.

Head to Head

West Indies Women vs Pakistan Women:

Played – 12 | Won by West Indies Women – 10 | Won by Pakistan Women – 2 | Tied – 0 | No result – 0

Stat Attack

92- Pakistan’s Nida Dar is eight scalps away from registering 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.

21- West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor has 21 half-centuries under her belt in T20Is.

Broadcast details

TV – Star Sports

Live streaming – Hotstar

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