Australia
Two thumping victories in their opening two games have given Australia huge confidence and momentum as they head inevitably towards the semi-finals. Sri Lanka were seen by many as possible challengers in the “group of death”, but were swept aside by Australia’s phenomenally accurate bowling, spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Annabel Sutherland. Schutt has taken 6 wickets and only conceded 15 runs from 44 balls delivered in the tournament so far. She has yet to be hit for a boundary. Australia are also showing themselves to be a supremely fit team. Beth Mooney has hit 83 runs from 70 balls in the tournament, with only 6 boundaries – the other runs she has sprinted herself in the 100 degree heat. At this point in the tournament Australia look like an unstoppable juggernaut.
Prediction: winners.
Bangladesh
Officially still tournament hosts, Bangladesh began well by defending 119 against Scotland in the opening game. They are an energetic team with skilful slow bowlers who demand patience from the batting team on the sluggish pitches, slow outfields and long boundaries in the UAE. Stand out players have been Ritu Moni with the ball and Sobhana Mostery with the bat. They did well to frustrate England for long parts of their match, which although ended in defeat for the Bangladesh team, gives them hope as they approach their final two games. It is likely they will need to win both those matches, against West Indies and South Africa, in order to progress.
Prediction: group stage exit
England
A disappointing start to the tournament - scoring less than a run a ball against Bangladesh, was followed up by a much more convincing win against an excellent South Africa team. Stars for England have been Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt with the bat and their four-pronged spin attack with the ball – all four of them making telling contributions at some point so far. The South Africa game was the real test for England in this group – far greater tests lie ahead, but their authoritative and confident performance against the Proteas will be a big boost as they head towards the knockout phase. More runs on the board from Maia Bouchier, Amy Jones and Alice Capsey in the final two group games will also be a good preparation for what will be required in the semi-final and the final. This England team are firing and can really beat anyone on their day.
Prediction: runners-up
India
It is difficult to imagine a worse tournament for India. Humiliated by New Zealand in their opening game (bowled out for 102 in 19 overs when chasing 160), they then once again struck at less then a run a ball to successfully chase down the 105 set for them by Pakistan in their second game. Total transformation is what is needed for them to beat both Sri Lanka and Australia in their final two group games, and even then, that may not be enough because of their terrible net run rate. Why is such a talented group of players under-performing so much? There has clearly been lots of investment into the women’s game in India and one would reasonably assume that success would follow. They are playing like a team under pressure and the cracks are showing. Harmanpreet Kaur’s temperament as captain has once again come under close scrutiny and it could be that further losses result in her being replaced once the World Cup is over.
Prediction: group stage exit
New Zealand
New Zealand were a complete joke coming into the World Cup. They had lost 10 games back-to-back. In their tour of England a few short weeks ago, they did not even come close to a win in any game. Yet they turned up at the T20 World Cup and walloped India in their first game, turning the “group of death” on its head. The truth is, New Zealand are not a great team. But they have some great players like Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr. If those three can get a bit of support from the other eight players, if players like Georgia Plimmer, Maddie Green and Brooke Halliday can score a few quick runs, whilst at the same time bowlers like Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu can chip in with some wickets, then New Zealand can beat anyone. And that’s exactly what happened on 4th October in Dubai against India. Whether it will happen again in this tournament is debateable, but all teams should approach the Kiwis with a little bit of fear.
Prediction: semi-finalists
Pakistan
Pakistan have had an excellent tournament so far. They outplayed Sri Lanka in their opening game, easily defending 116 to win by 31 runs – a huge margin in such a low scoring game. Whilst they struggled in their defeat against India, they caused enough problems to make sure India made little indent into their net run rate deficit. So at the half way point, it is Pakistan who sit 2nd in the group and India 4th, which is not quite what we expected. For Pakistan to progress, they need to avoid a very heavy defeat against Australia and then set up effectively a quarter-final against New Zealand in their final group game. Could Pakistan qualify? Rule nothing out. Fatima Sana has had an excellent tournament and getting her into bat sooner in the innings could be key in improving Pakistan’s chances.
Prediction: group stage exit
Scotland
Scotland have done an amazing job to qualify for this World Cup, but getting here has been a bit of a rude awakening for them. It has been really tough. In that opening game against Bangladesh, Sarah Bryce was amazing, keeping wicket in the intense desert heat for 20 overs, then carrying her bat in Scotland’s innings for all 20 overs, only to see Scotland fall 16 runs short of their target. The second game against West Indies was chastening to say the least. Struggling to a total of 99 after 20 overs, Scotland hoped to put some pressure on the West Indies, but were blown away by their power hitting, Scotland losing with still eight overs left to play. With matches to come against South Africa and England, it’s difficult to see where Scotland will get any points. The Bryce sisters will need to be at their best to get anything from those games, but a Scottish win against the Auld Enemy would be a memorable way to end the tournament.
Prediction: group stage exit
South Africa
South Africa are a very impressive team. Beaten finalists in 2023, they seem a better team now and have performed excellently so far. They are a team full of strong characters: fiery Marizanne Kapp, calm Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, the unlikely hero of 2023, Ayabonga Khaka who seems gets a wicket whenever they really need one and Nonkululeko Mlaba, who was player of the match in their first game against West Indies, which they won easily by ten wickets, Wolvaardt and Brits nonchalantly chasing down 118 with two overs to spare. Edged out by a very strong England team in their second game, South Africa are poised to qualify for the semi-finals for the second T20 World Cup running, where they will probably face Australia. Watch out Aussies – on their day South Africa can beat anyone!
Prediction: semi-finalists
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have been the most disappointing side of the tournament. The Asia Cup holders were tipped by many to be the team to threaten the Australia and India dominance of Group A. In reality, they have been awful. Scoring barely more than four runs per over against Pakistan in their opening game when chasing a very get-able 116, they then managed only 93 against Australia, a total which was overhauled after only 14 overs. They currently lie at the bottom of Group A with no points and a terrible run rate. India are their next opponents. They desperately need Chamari Athapaththu to find some form with bat and ball to inspire them to victory again, just as they need Gunaratne and Samarawickrama to score some runs at a decent rate. They are just playing for pride in their next two games – it would be good to see this team record at least one victory in this tournament, but it is difficult to see where it will come from.
Prediction: group stage exit
West Indies
There is a bit of a cliché about the West Indies. It goes something like – “you never know which West Indies are going to turn up”. Like any cliché or stereotype, it’s not true or helpful. It suggests that the participants are not really bothered, that they don’t always try. These are highly talented and determined young women who are aiming to win back a trophy they held in 2016. However, performances like their first two games do not help in dispelling this myth. In the first game, they posted 118 – about the same score everyone has been getting, but it was easily surpassed by South Africa, by 10 wickets. In the second game, Scotland must have really thought they had a good chance against a bowling attack that couldn’t take wickets and a batting force who hit at a run a ball. How wrong they were! The West Indies thumped Scotland, chasing down 100 runs in less than 12 overs with some huge hitting by Qiana Joseph, Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry. Currently sat in second place in Group B, with their next game against Bangladesh, the West indies will be quietly confident that they can qualify. To do so, they will almost certainly have to beat England in their final game. If Joseph, Dottin and Henry produce the goods again, there is no reason to doubt that this could happen.
Prediction: group stage exit
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