Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
The first ever standalone Women’s World T20 has officially reached its business end, with four of the best sides in the world battling it out for the ultimate prize.
West Indies and Australia play the first of two exciting semi finals, in a rematch of the 2016 Final, with the hosts aiming for their second consecutive World T20 Title. Australia, aiming for their fourth title, will be looking to keep a Windies side, that has dominated all before them with the ball, at bay.
Who will be the first to reach the final?
Hosts West Indies deservedly topped Group A, dominating each of their opponents with the ball. Their game against England was a straight shoot out for group honours, but they held their nerve well in a tight chase, which will hold them in good stead for this game. Their batting can still go another level, but if they are on song with the ball, the same level could do. Can the Windies continue their great form against a world class Australia side?
Australia, on the other hand, are smarting from a convincing defeat at the hands of India. This side is considered Australia’s greatest ever women’s side in some areas of the Australian media, and how they bounce back in a pressure game against confident hosts will be key to whether that statement holds true. Key player Alyssa Healy is working overtime to be fit after concussion, but regardless whether she is in or not, Australia need a better all-round performance.
Key to a West Indies win
Skipper Stafanie Taylor has been uncharacteristically quiet with the bat; not only in this tournament, but in 2018 as a whole. She has just one fifty to her name in 12 innings this year, and in this tournament, two of her four innings have ended without troubling the scorers. With Hayley Mathews, Deandra Dottin and Shermaine Campbelle all displaying good form in recent games, whether the Windies can overcome Australia’s fine attack remains to be seen, which sets the stage for Taylor to fire.
But, she is not only key with the bat, as her tournament suggests. The Windies have been absolutely brilliant with the ball in World T20 2018, conceding 46, 76, 104 and 115/8 in their four games. Led by the magnificent Deandra Dottin, can the Windies dismiss key player Alyssa Healy cheaply and make inroads into the Aussie batting line up? The battle promises to be mouthwatering.
Key to an Australia win
Australia’s bowlers were expensive against India, with only Ellyse Perry and debutant Tayla Vlaeminck going for under seven an over. Against a West Indies batting line up looking to fire at the business end of the tournament, it is vital from an Australian perspective that the likes of Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor and Shermaine Campbelle are kept as quiet as possible. Megan Schutt and the impressive Ellyse Perry will be vital to the cause, but the support they get will be just as important.
On the batting front, the impact of Alyssa Healy’s absence was there to see against India, with only Ellyse Perry finding any sort of sustained rhythm. Australia’s top order is key in keeping the talented Windies attack at bay, as they aim to be the first side in the tournament to win the battle against the hosts’ bowlers. Can the likes of Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning and Ashleigh Gardner find top form?
Possible teams
West Indies: 1. Hayley Matthews, 2. Deandra Dottin, 3. Stafanie Taylor (c), 4. Shermaine Campbelle, 5. Natasha McLean, 6. Britney Cooper, 7. Kycia Knight (wk), 8. Chinelle Henry, 9. Afy Fletcher, 10. Shakera Selman, 11. Shamilia Connell
Australia: 1. Beth Mooney, 2. Alyssa Healy (wk), 3. Meg Lanning (c), 4. Ashleigh Gardner, 5. Elyse Villani, 6. Rachael Haynes, 7. Ellyse Perry, 8. Sophie Molineux, 9. Delissa Kimmince, 10. Georgia Wareham/Tayla Vlaeminck, 11. Megan Schutt
Dream11
Unbelievable options to choose from, especially in the allrounders department. Below is my team, with a few pointers.
- Alyssa Healy is set to play. A must-have in your team. Does she captain your side?
- Ellyse Perry is my skipper, because of her all-round potential. Deandra Dottin is in my side as vice captain. Ashleigh Gardner is my pick over Hayley Mathews and Stafanie Taylor, as I predict she will score the most runs out of the three.
- Delissa Kimmince has been strong for most of the tournament, and so too Megan Schutt, Shakera Selman and Afy Fletcher.
Stats and Facts
- West Indies beat Australia in the World T20 2016 Final, which is their only win against Australia in T20Is.
- North Sound hasn’t hosted a T20I for five years.
- Ellyse Perry is three away from 100 wickets in T20Is, as well as 52 away from 1,000 runs.
Prediction
Promises to be an absolute beauty!
Australia, despite their loss to India, still possess plenty of class, and I think they will overcome the Windies juggernaut.
Thanks for reading!
