Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

T20 World Cup Match 18: AUS-W vs NZ-W Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS-W vs NZ-W Dream11 | Australia Women vs New Zealand Women Preview Dream11 | AUS-W vs NZ-W Key Players | Junction Oval Pitch Report

So, here we are – a virtual Quarter Final, with the winning team to dream a little longer about that dream day at the MCG this Sunday.

Out of 40 matches between Australia and New Zealand in T20Is, this is one of the most significant. The pressure will be rife. It will come down to who can hold their nerve better, with this virtual knockout surely holding the winning team in great stead ahead of the finals.

Both teams played Bangladesh in their respective last games. Australia dominated, while New Zealand struggled, but that counts for little in a game of this magnitude. Can Australia, who have won their past four games against New Zealand, make it five? Or will New Zealand, with a great mix of experience and youth, cause the unthinkable and have Australia out in the group stage?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Alyssa Healy has two half centuries (51 and 83) in three games in this World Cup. After five single-digit scores in a row, it seems she is finding her range.
• Suzie Bates is the highest run-scorer in AUS-NZ T20Is (897, avg. 26.38). She knows this opposition really well.
• Meg Lanning, who played a crucial knock of 41* (44) vs Sri Lanka earlier this tournament, is next on the list among active players with 468 (avg. 21.27).
• Beth Mooney is in fine touch. She has scored a half century in four of her past nine knocks.
• Can Sophie Devine go big? She has scored just 14 and 12 in her past two games, after an amazing run of form: 54*, 61, 77, 105 and 75*.
• Also, Devine was the top run-scorer in last year’s WBBL: 769 runs, avg. 76.90, SR 130.33.
• Ellyse Perry has had a quiet T20 World Cup (5 runs, 1 wicket). However, this is the game for a player of her calibre to fire; she has the most wickets of any active player in AUS-NZ T20Is (32) and has 237 runs at 23.70 against them.
• Amelia Kerr, New Zealand’s star all-rounder, will have a key role to play. She has five wickets in her last three games and recently played a stunning knock of 34* (19) vs India.
• Sophie Devine (24) and Suzie Bates (23) have a combined 47 wickets against Australia.
• Hayley Jensen has two three-fors and two Player of the Match performances in this World Cup.
• Jess Jonassen is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in this tournament with five in three games.
• Megan Schutt (15 wickets in 14 games vs NZ) and Lea Tahuhu (13 wickets in 16 games vs AUS) will be key for their teams.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-Head: Matches 40, Australia 20, New Zealand 19.
• Australia have won the past four meetings between the teams.
• The winner of this match will join India from Group A to play in the Semi Finals.
• Rachael Haynes has batted well in the middle order in recent times: 158 runs in her last six innings at 31.60

Possible Playing 11

Australia: 1. Alyssa Healy (wk), 2. Beth Mooney, 3. Ashleigh Gardner, 4. Meg Lanning (c), 5. Rachael Haynes, 6. Ellyse Perry, 7. Annabel Sutherland, 8. Jess Jonassen, 9. Georgia Wareham/Molly Strano, 10. Nicola Carey, 11. Megan Schutt

New Zealand: 1. Sophie Devine (c), 2. Rachel Priest (wk), 3. Suzie Bates, 4. Maddy Green, 5. Hayley Jensen, 6. Katie Martin, 7. Amelia Kerr, 8. Anna Peterson, 9. Leigh Kasperek, 10. Lea Lahuhu, 11. Rosemary Mair/Jess Kerr

Junction Oval Pitch Report and Conditions

New Zealand struggled against the Bangladesh spinners in their 91 all-out on Saturday. The pitch at Junction Oval could take a bit of spin once again, particularly with this being the second game of the day.

There is the chance of morning showers in Melbourne, which should hopefully clear up for this afternoon game.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Also read: Do you bet on the cricket? Some tips for you:

• The art of reading cricket odds: How to understand the odds
• How do bookmakers set the odds in cricket betting?
• Online betting: Key things to keep in mind

Match Prediction

What a match we have in store. All is at stake in a virtual knockout, where it comes down to calmness under pressure as much as ability.

This one looks to be a really tight match. Both teams have similar strengths and weaknesses, which has them both evenly-matched.

However, Australia at home, with their experience, might just sneak home.

Thanks for reading!