Sutherland looking forward to new venue while Pakistan bid to win for Fatima
Media release
Annabel Sutherland and Australia are looking forward to the challenge of a new location as they bid to secure a semi-final spot with a win over Pakistan in Dubai.
The reigning champions have so far enjoyed comfortable victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Sharjah and have never lost against Friday’s opponents in a T20I.
Sutherland has been in fine form with the ball, conceding just eight from her three overs against Sri Lanka and taking three wickets against the White Ferns, and hopes to see her influence continue to grow as the competition progresses.
“I’m loving it,” she said. “The opportunity to bowl three or four overs, I'll take it given the amount of bowlers we've got in the team.
“I feel like my variations are playing a role and working in the conditions that we've got.
“This is another opportunity to go out there in a World Cup, new conditions, and adapt against a new line-up.
“We're going to have to plan and think about as an individual, how you're going to take on their line-up.
“It seems like the Pakistan spin potentially could pose a bit of a threat, but it feels like we've had a good opportunity to face a lot of that in the last few weeks particularly at training so I'm sure the girls will be ready.”
Australia’s fluid batting line-up has been on show so far in the UAE, with Shelley Nitschke rotating the order and giving different players opportunities to shine.
Sutherland is a fine example of her side’s depth – she has a Test double century and ODI century to her name but has spent just three balls at the crease so far, having come in at nine in their opener and not been needed against Sri Lanka.
“I think Shelley's got 15 players nagging her to try and get an opportunity up the order,” she said.
“But, yeah, absolutely any opportunity I can get, I'm going to try and take. You look at our top order, even our whole line-up, anywhere you sort of slide in, whether you get a chance to go out there and face some balls, that's a good chance to take an opportunity.
“But if not, it means the top order are doing a really good job.”
Pakistan, who have won one and lost one of their opening two games, will be captained by Muneeba Ali, with Fatima Sana returning home following the death of her father.
Fatima will be at the forefront of her teammates’ thoughts when they take to the field in Sharjah and Muneeba hopes they will make their skipper proud with their display.
“We are very saddened by the tragedy of the death of Fatima's father,” she said. “It was a difficult time for her.
“Obviously, her departure will make a difference in our combination. But we have the resources to cover all the bases.
“Fatima is our captain and the qualities she possesses in batting and bowling are very good and she gives our team a good balance.
“So, obviously we will miss her as a captain and as a player, but we will try to win the match for her and her father.”
Muneeba will hope to rely on spin twins Sadia Iqbal and Nushra Sandhu, who have made economical starts to the competition – conceding just five and four-and-a-half runs per over respectively to date.
“Sadia has been an important member of our team for the past 1-1.5 years,” she said.
“The way Nasra supports us in the middle overs is sometimes overlooked.
“We know that they are very important for us and they have broken partnerships for us in difficult matches.
“We all have an idea and we all value it. And we know that on their day, they are very good for us.”
ENDS