WWC 2017, IND v NZ, Preview: It's now or never for Mithali Raj & Co

After an inspiring start to their campaign, Team India now find themselves in a catch-22 situation. The equation though, is simple and straight forward, the one who wins this contest will go through to the semi-finals and the ones who looses will catch an early flight back home.

After 4 successive wins, the Mithali Raj led side never expected to combat this situation but a strong Kiwi contingent stands in their way right now, who might leave the Indians heart broken. Though the Black Cap women haven’t fired the way they’d have liked in this tournament, to write them off would be next to foolish.

Barring skipper Suzie Bates, no one in their side has managed to amass substantial runs, which left them lagging behind. With 7 points in their tally, they definitely need to win this game to ensure they go forward as South Africa, England and Australia have already assured their places. Currently at 4th is Team India with 8 points, who will give it their best shot to ensure a brilliant campaign doesn’t go in vain.

As the group stages of the ICC Women’s World Cup come to a close, the scenario is beautifully poised for a blockbuster weekend.

Toss: NZ Women won the toss and elected to field

Playing XI

India Women: Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma(w), Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav

New Zealand Women: Suzie Bates(c), Rachel Priest(w), Amy Satterthwaite, Katey Martin, Sophie Devine, Katie Perkins, Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek

Focus will be on

Mithali Raj

She has been there in pressure situations before and if ever there’s anyone in the Indian side who can face this music and get the better of it, its Mithali. A big score from the skipper is very imperative for India’s cause and she is one such player who instils confidence to the rest of the side. This is Mithali’s last World Cup and she would be hoping to finish her career on a high, hopefully with a World Cup winner’s medal.

Amelia Kerr

The sixteen-year-old Ameila Kerr entered the tournament with barely any expectations and has turned out to be one of the best in the Kiwi side. The leg-break bowler is the second highest wicket-taker this tournament (10 wickets in 5 matches), second only to the on song South African skipper Dane van Niekerk. Indians are really good at facing spin bowling, which will pose an even tougher challenge for the teenager.

Playing combinations

India

Though Smriti Mandhana has been out of form after a blazing start, she will open with Punam Raut. It will be interesting to see if Mithali comes out to bat at number 3 or Deepti Sharma as both of them have been playing this role taking turns. Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy and Sushma Verma complete the middle-order and the team will want them to make valuable additions to the score.

Jhulan Goswami has had a mediocre tournament as of yet, but she will always be a key for India. Shikha Pandey, the other fast bowler in the side, has been exceptional. Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav and Deepti will have to ensure their out of form batters don’t get any room to getting back amongst the runs.

New Zealand

Skipper Suzie Bates will open the innings alongside wicketkeeper batter Rachel Priest. Amy Satterwaite will be up next, followed by Katey Martin, Sophie Devine, Katie Perkins and Erin Bermingham in the middle order. Barely anyone of the batters has matched the expectations and there ain’t a better occasion to get back to form then the game on Saturday.

Leigh Kasperek might take the new ball yet again as the ploy to start off with an offie has worked brilliantly for all teams. Barring Tahuhu and Bates, the entire bowling contingent is a pack of spinners; making their task a little more difficult against a sub-continent side. Huddleston, Amelia Kerr and Bermingham will have restrict the run flow in the middle overs to ensure the Indian middle-order doesn’t take the match away from them.

Stat Attack

78 – Deepti Sharma needs 78 runs to complete 1,000 runs in WODIs

12 – Indian wicketkeeper Sushma Verma has been involved in 12 dismissals this World Cup, which happens to be the highest

4 – Four Indian batswomen have scored more than 150 runs this tournament whereas only 2 from the Kiwi contingent managed to breach that mark.