Cricket
Women's T20 World Cup: India eye a spot in the final as they take on England in the semis
While Harmanpreet Kaur-led side can boast of having form by their side, history is certainly against them. India and England have met five times in Women's T20 World Cup with England emerging as winners on all five occasions.
Firm title contenders after a sensational unbeaten run in the group stages, India will have to ensure a solid all-round performance to get the better of formidable England in the semifinals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on 5 March.
While Harmanpreet Kaur-led side can boast of having form by their side, history is certainly against them. India and England have met five times in Women's T20 World Cup with England emerging as winners on all five occasions. Also, in the earlier seven editions, India have never reached the final.
This time around though they have emerged as serious title contenders after a string of superlative performances. They began with a win over defending champions Australia and since then have gathered strength with every match, beating Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka to top group A with eight points from four matches.
Coincidentally, the last time the two sides met in a T20 World Cup match was also a semifinal match. It was two years ago in West Indies. England had got better of India by eight wickets in that contest.
"After losing the last semifinal, as a team we realised we have to work as a unit, and right now you will see that our team is working as a unit and we are not reliant on just one or two players," India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, referring to the semifinals loss in 2018.
Seven players in this Indian team played in that semifinal and they would be looking to turn the tables on the Englishwomen this time. The Indians will also take confidence from the win against England in the tri-series in Australia ahead of this World Cup.
On form, most of the Indians are in top form with teenage sensation Shafali Verma being the leading batter, having scored 161 runs in four innings, which has seen her rise to top spot in the ICC women's T20 rankings. With a batting average of 40.25, the 16-year-old is on the third spot among leading run-getters in the tournament, followed by England's Natalie Sciver (202) and Heather Knight (193). One-down Jemimah Rodrigues is also in good touch and has made useful contributions though she has not scored big so far, with 34 being her highest. The middle order has also stepped up whenever needed with Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav making their presence felt in different matches. The two most experienced players in skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana have, however, not been living up to the expectations and the semifinals could be their big comeback. In the bowling department, leg-spinner Poonam Yadav is on top of the tournament chart with nine wickets from four matches. She has been ably supported by Shikha Pandey (7 from 4 matches).
India will be relying on the batting exploits of newly crowned No.1 batter in Women's T20Is Shafali Verma at top of the order. (Image: ICC)
For England, who have qualified for the semifinals after finishing second in group B with three wins and one loss, batting has been their strength. Natalie has plundered 202 runs with an average of 67.33, including three fifties, and the Indians will have to find a way to stop her in her tracks. In the bowling department also, England have the likes of left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (8 wickets) and pacer Anya Shrubsole (7 wickets) who are at second and third spot in the tournament chart.
Natalie Sciver has plundered 202 runs with an average of 67.33, including three fifties. She could spoil India's party. (Image: T20WorldCup)
The Teams (from): India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Harleen Deol, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Richa Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar.
England: Heather Knight (Captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.
Match Starts at 9:30am IST
Also Read: Shafali has brought happiness and positivity to team, says Harmanpreet
