T20 Women’s World Cup 2024/25, BAN-W vs ENG-W 6th Match, Group A Match Preview

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T20 Women’s World Cup 2024/25, BAN-W vs ENG-W 6th Match, Group A Match Preview

Australia vs Sri Lanka

Sharjah, 2pm local time

Australian team: Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck

Sri Lanka team: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilshari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ginaweera, Amandika Ranaweera, Amandika Kumari

Tournament form guide: After warming up with wins over Bangladesh and Scotland, Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka lost their first match against Pakistan in Sharjah. Australia, unsurprisingly, beat England and the West Indies in the warm-up, after batting first in both matches.

Short stories: Sri Lanka are in a spot, having lost their opening match against lowly Pakistan, that too by being restricted to 85 for 9 in their chase of 117. They will now play a one-day game against Australia in the heat of Sharjah – the same as their first game – so squad changes may not be on the cards. Sri Lanka will need to pull their socks up on the field after conceding three, costly goals on Thursday. Australia could be very tough, as the teams did on the opening day, and they have enough allrounders to do that.

Australia have never lost to Sri Lanka in T20Is, the last time was the 2023 T20 World Cup where Sri Lanka got the chance to be beaten by ten wickets. However, Australia will not want to be “Atha-ed”, which Alyssa Healy said was demolished by Chamari Athapaththu.

A player to watch: Player of the Tournament for the 2023 edition, Beth Mooney had a few low scores ahead of the tournament, unable to get past 15 in her five T20I innings. She scored 50 in England’s warm-up match, but will be looking for big scores in the big tournament again, following her unbeaten 99* off 54 balls in the Women’s Hundred not long ago at Manchester Originals. A strong start with Healy at the top could make Sri Lanka quick, batting first or second.

Bangladesh vs England

Sharjah, 6pm local time

Bangladesh team: Nigar Sultana (capt, wk), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rasni, Dishathi

The England team: Heather Knight (capt), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith , Danny Wyatt

Tournament form guide“In the ‘home’ World Cup in Bangladesh, they got things off to a good start, with a 16-run win against Scotland, after beating Pakistan in the second warm-up. England started their warm-up with a 33-run defeat in Australia, before beating New Zealand by five wickets.

Short stories: Bangladesh now field a much stronger side in England, more aggressive than their 2023 version, and carrying more spinners in this format. England also have a fully prepared squad to choose from. Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith is back, and so are Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn and Alice Capsey, along with her useful short break. England may go with three front spinners so that the pitch will help and not see as much bounce.

Bangladesh were restricted to 119 for 7 by Scotland in the first game, and scoring big or fast runs against England will be very difficult. Bangladesh were the worst team on day one, conceding four chances, and will have to build on that if they want to think about beating England for the first time in the women’s T20Is. This is an evening game, however less dew is expected in Sharjah compared to Dubai, which may be the reason why the Pakistanis chose to bat in the evening game here on Thursday.

A player to watch: Ecclestone is, without doubt, England’s best spinner, but don’t take your eyes off legspinner Sarah Glenn. He became England’s second-most wicket-taker since the end of the 2023 T20 World Cup, with 26 just behind Ecclestone’s 29. But Glenn has taken far fewer runs per over with an economy rate of 5.27, compared to Ecclestone’s. 6.25. Hitting well, this will be the third World Cup for Glenn who is only 25 years old.

Vishal Dikshit is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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