PNG aiming to upset in-form Bangladesh
Overview
Bangladesh Women v Papua New Guinea Women
VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
Match 4, WT20Q 2018
Saturday, 7 July, 15:00 BST, 16:00 local
Bangladesh come into the tournament in excellent form and will start as firm favourites in their Group A encounter with Papua New Guinea.
Having caused an upset by defeating India to be crowned the Women's Asia T20 Cup champions in June, they travelled to Ireland where they prevailed 2-1 in a fiercely contested T20I series. It was just the stern test they needed before such a big tournament and it should stand them in good stead as they bid to claim one of the two remaining spots at the ICC Women's World T20 in November.
That feeling of positivity will have only been increased by a comprehensive victory over Scotland in their warm-up fixture.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea have much to ponder as they prepare to go head-to-head with one of the tournament favourites. They lost to Ireland by eight wickets in their warm-up match in Rotterdam but can draw on a positive campaign in the ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifying Series East Asia-Pacific Region where they won all but one of their matches.
PNG will be hoping to improve upon their fifth-place finish at the 2015 World T20 Qualifier where they defeated China in the Shield final.
**Key playersJahanara Alam (Bangladesh):**The 25-year-old right-arm seamer recently became the first Bangladeshi to take a five-wicket T20I haul, returning figures of 5/28 in a nail-biting victory over Ireland. PNG will need to negotiate her opening spell if they are to build a total that can challenge their opponents.
Pauke Siaka (Papua New Guinea): At the age of 32, and with a wealth of experience behind her, the skipper is still her country's most reliable batter at this level. Siaka warmed up for this match by top-scoring in the defeat to Ireland, hitting a measured 28 from 34 deliveries.
Squads
**Bangladesh:**Salma Khatun(c), Fargana Hoque, Nigar Sultana, Ayasha Rahman, Lily Rani, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Sultana, , Khadija Tul Kubra, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Jahanara Alam
**Papua New Guinea:**Pauke Siaka (c), Natasha Ambol, Vicky Ara'a, Kaia Arua, Helen Buruka (wk), Veru Kila Frank, Sibona Jimmy, Kopi John, Ravini Oa, Tanya Ruma, Brenda Tau (wk), Mairi Tom, Isabel Toua, Naoani Vare