ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, 2017
Australia's big-match experience up against India's familiarity
Smriti Mandhana's form remains a concern for India © Getty
After 29 matches in the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, it's now down to three teams with one of them already having qualified for the final. As to who will face England this weekend, it will be decided when six-time champions and current holders of the trophy - Australia - take on an Indian side that has blown hot and cold during the tournament.
While Australia have been clinical throughout the tournament, overcoming oppositions with minimum fuss to finish the league stage with a solitary loss, India have experienced moments of brilliance and mediocrity in equal measure. Whether Mithali Raj's team can show enough application and discipline against a well-oiled, professional unit headed by Meg Lanning, would determine if India feature in their second World Cup final or if Australia continue their love affair with summit clashes for the ninth time in 11 editions.
Although Australia might appear favourites going into this game, the fact that India are playing their fifth game at the County Ground in Derby - where they are yet to suffer a loss - would even things out. The slow turners that have been on offer at the home of Derbyshire CCC, have been much to India's liking as they have registered four out of their five league stage wins at this venue. That 65% of the 49 wickets picked up by the Indian bowlers and eight of the 12 fifty-plus scores by their batters have come at this venue proves familiarity breeds success for the sub-continent team.
Meanwhile, Australia would prefer to reflect on their previous performances in this tournament, which also includes a convincing eight-wicket victory with nearly five overs to spare in a chase of 227 against India. In the same game, India were guilty of not rotating the strike enough, consuming as many as 159 dot deliveries. Skipper Raj had admitted that the fear of losing wickets led to a conservative approach and Australia will be keen to replicate those efforts and put India under pressure straightaway.
India, however, managed to take their batting up by a few notches against New Zealand to ensure a sizeable total, unlike some of their previous games. This renewed approach to their batting, along with consistent contributions of the spinners, should hold them in good stead.
Losing early wickets has been a major concern for India and has led to their slow approach. After a good start to the tournament, Smriti Mandhana has had five failures in a row while Punam Raut too has been on and off when it comes to her batting. India will be keen to address their opening woes and will also expect their seamers to pull up their socks ahead of the second semi-final.
For Australia, things have moved along swimmingly, barring a narrow three-run loss against England, with contributions coming from all corners. Ellyse Perry, Nicole Bolton and Lanning between them have scored in excess of 1000 runs with a combined average of more than 85. With Beth Mooney, Alex Blackwell and Alyssa Healy also being amongst the runs, Australia have the best batting line-up and the most balanced one of the tournament.
Their bowling too isn't far behind with Megan Schutt, Jess Jonassen, Kristen Beams, Perry and Ashleigh Gardner having delivered consistently. In their seven matches so far, Australia have bowled out oppositions three times and have picked up at least seven wickets in each of their remaining games, making their bowling outfit a very formidable one. Another all-round show is what Australia will be aiming for in their attempt to seal a fifth finals date, with England.
When: Thursday, July 20 at 10:30 AM Local Time (3:00 PM IST)
Where: County Ground, Derby
What to expect: The conditions on offer here have been ideal for the slow bowlers, something that India has relished ever since setting foot in the UK. Of the six completed games in this tournament at this venue, the team batting first has won each time, which makes the choice simple for the captain winning the toss. 280 has been crossed twice by the team batting first while India have also defended a total of 169 here, with their spinners having a big say. The weather is expected to be pleasant, with a high of 20 degree Celsius and partly cloudy conditions.
Team News:
Australia: Lanning, who has been carrying a shoulder injury, has missed two matches so far including Australia's last game against South Africa. However, she is expected to return for this make-or-break match, which means Rachael Haynes would have to sit out.
India: Replacing Ekta Bisht for the previous game, Rajeshwari Gayakwad came up with a match-winning 5 for 15 against New Zealand. A like-for-like replacement for Bisht, Gayakwad is likely to be persisted with considering that she is fresh off a career-best performance.
Did you know?
- Mithali Raj has registered 11 fifty-plus scores in World Cup matches. She needs one more to equal New Zealand's Debbie Hockley for most fifty-plus scores in the World Cup.
- Jhulan Goswami is one wicket away from surpassing Diana Edulji as India's highest wicket-taker in the World Cup. She has taken 31 wickets so far and is joint sixth on the list of highest wicket-takers in the global event.
- Meg Lanning needs to score one more run to become the fourth Australian Women with 3000 runs in One Day Internationals.
What they said:
"We'll make sure we're really clear what our plans are. On any given day, it's irrelevant where we play, if we play our best cricket hopefully we'll win the match" - Nicole Bolton.
"How the players play the situation is important because having said that Derby is our home ground, you need to perform on that day to win" - Mithali Raj.
Squads:
Australia Women: Beth Mooney, Nicole Bolton, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning(c), Elyse Villani, Alex Blackwell, Alyssa Healy(w), Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Kristen Beams, Sarah Aley, Rachael Haynes, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda Wellington
India Women: Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Sushma Verma(w), Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Mona Meshram, Mansi Joshi, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Nuzhat Parween
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