Michael Vaughan predicts the winner of Women's T20 World Cup 2020

The seventh women’s T20 World Cup is underway in Australia and as the tournament’s momentum intensifies, pundits have started predicting winners. Former England captain Michael Vaughan came up with his prediction that the hosts will lift the title after they beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in their second group game in Perth on Monday. The Aussie women started off their campaign with a loss against India but were quick to bounce back.

The tournament started with a blockbuster clash between Australia and India in Group A in Sydney last Saturday and Women in Blue avenged their recent narrow loss in the final of a tri-series tournament by winning by 17 runs. Poonam Yadav was adjudged the player of the match by taking four wickets for just 19 runs to derail the hosts’ chase of a modest target of 133.

Australia at the third position in points table now; India on top

India won their second game too by defeating Bangladesh by 18 runs to sit at the top of the points table. Australia are third at the moment with one win and loss while New Zealand are placed second with their one win over the Lankans by seven wickets.

Australia still have some work to do if they aspire to finish in the top two of the group and advance to the semi-finals. Their net run-rate (NRR) is also negative (-0.325) while those of India (+0.875) and New Zealand (+1.065) are positive. The hosts next face Bangladesh in Canberra on Thursday. Their final group game is against New Zealand in Melbourne on March 2.

Vaughan’s country, however, had a less-than-good start as South Africa hammered them by six wickets in the only game they have played so far. On Sunday, the Three Lions women could accumulate only 123 runs in 20 overs in the Group B match in Perth. England will next take on Thailand in Canberra on Wednesday and a big win there will bring them back into the reckoning for the semi-final berth. The West Indies are leading Group B with two points owing to a superior NRR than SA.

Australia have a rich record in women’s T20 World Cup as they have won the title four out of six times with a treble between 2010 and 2014.

Aussies to Win the #T20WorldCup after that win me thinks … !! @FoxCricket !!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 24, 2020