India Women vs New Zealand Women, ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2020, Today Match Prediction 27 Feb 2020

indw vs nzw Match Prediction & Analysis

India Women will look to extend their winning streak in the competition when they take on New Zealand Women in the 9th match of ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday. Harmanpreet Kaur-led unit has notched up consecutive victories to get off to a flying start in the tournament.

In the previous game, India Women registered a 12-run win over Bangladesh Women to go top of the league table.

On the other hand, New Zealand will be looking to continue their good form against India women. Sophie Devine-led unit comfortably brushed aside Sri Lanka women in their opening game played at Perth.

TEAMS PREVIEW

India Women Preview

After registering back-to-back victories in the competition, India Women will certainly a stern Test when they take on New Zealand Women. Opener Smriti Mandhana was ruled out of the game played against Bangladesh due to viral fever.

The opener is expected to be fit in time for the game against New Zealand. For this contest, the side will be relying on the likes of Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues to produce the bulk of the runs. Rookie opener Shafali Verma has owns excellent form with the bat in this competition. She has accumulated 68 runs at an average of 34.00. In the previous game, Shafali played exceedingly well and finished the innings with the top-score of 39 runs off 17 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes.

Besides Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues has put in decent performances for India in this World Cup. Against Bangladesh, Rodrigues chipped in with 34 runs off 37 balls with the help of two fours and one six. Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy has also chipped in with crucial scores for the side in the two games played so far in the tournament.

In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad to provide crucial breakthroughs. Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav has topped the bowling charts for India in this competition. She has claimed 7 wickets in 2 matches at an economy rate of 4.62.

India Women Predicted Playing XI:

Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana/Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

India Women Actual Playing XI:

Smriti Mandhana, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

New Zealand Women Preview

New Zealand will need to raise their game with bat and ball in order to break India’s winning streak in the competition. For the past six months, Captain Sophie Devine has shown exceptional form with the bat in the T20 format. In their opening fixture, the bowlers delivered a splendid effort to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest total. Hayley Jensen, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu delivered tidy spells for New Zealand women.

Medium-pacer Hayley Jensen was the pick of the bowlers against Sri Lanka and finished with figures of 3 for 16 in his four overs. Chasing 128 runs to win, Wicket-keeper Rachel Priest was dismissed in the fourth over to see New Zealand get off to a shaky start. All-rounder Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates led the recovery for New Zealand and put on a 40-run partnership for the second wicket.

Former New Zealand Captain Suzie Bates failed to capitalize on her decent start and perished after scoring 13 runs off 17 balls with the help of one four. Despite losing wickets at the other, Sophie Devine played exceedingly well and put on crucial partnerships with Suzie Bates and Maddy Green to see New Zealand get close to the target.

All-rounder Sophie Devine remained unbeaten till the end and scored 75 not out off 55 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Maddy Green, who chipped in with 29 runs off 20 balls with the help of two fours and one six.

New Zealand Women Predicted Playing XI:

Sophie Devine (c), Rachel Priest (wk), Maddy Green, Katie Perkins, Lea Tahuhu, Suzie Bates, Hayley Jensen, Katey Martin, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr

New Zealand Women Actual Playing XI:

Anna Peterson, Leigh Kasperek, Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Katey Martin, Sophie Devine, Rachel Priest, Rosemary Mair

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared at Junction Oval might offer something for quick bowlers with the new-ball. Batsmen will certainly enjoy the conditions at Junction Oval. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Thursday is expected to have cloudy skies with a light breeze.

Venue Details

Junction Oval in Melbourne is going to host the 9th match of ICC Women's T20 World Cup between India women and New Zealand Women. India has lost two out of three T20I matches played at Junction Oval. New Zealand has an excellent head-to-head record against India Women in the T20 format. The side has won eight matches out of eleven played against India.

Toss: To Bowl

Due to overcast conditions expected for the game, both the teams will be looking to bowl first and exploit the pitch conditions. The last four T20I matches have been won by sides batting first.