WT20WC 2024 Warm-Ups: New Zealand, Australia and India seal victories

On the second day of warm-up action ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, New Zealand, Australia and India recorded comfortable wins against South Africa, England and West Indies respectively.

New Zealand vs South Africa

Result: New Zealand won by 8 wickets

Melie Kerr delivered a stellar all-round display, leading New Zealand to a commanding victory over South Africa in their opening warm-up match

Kerr, alongside fellow spinner Leigh Kasperek, tore through South Africa’s batting order, restricting them to a modest total of 92.

Both spinners claimed three wickets each, as the Proteas batters faltered against spin at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

In response, New Zealand faced an early setback with Suzie Bates falling during the Powerplay. However, the modest target of 93 posed no significant challenge for the White Ferns.

Kerr, opening the innings, combined with captain Sophie Devine for a steady 36-run partnership for the second wicket before Shesh Naidu removed Kerr for a run-a-ball 37.

By that point, New Zealand were already on the verge of victory, and Devine, alongside Brooke Halliday, comfortably guided the team to an eight-wicket win.

Australia vs England

Result: Australia won by 33 runs

A half-century from Beth Mooney and a fine all-round performance from Tahlia McGrath helped Australia to victory over England at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

Mooney laid the foundation for a strong total with a quickfire 30-ball 50, consisting of 7 fours. Mooney didn’t let the spinners settle in easy, using her feat against them to find the boundaries with regularity. She found good support in Ash Gardner, who held up one end after Australia had lost Alyssa Healy and Elysse Perry early.

Once Mooney departed right after her fifty, it was Tahlia McGrath who took the attack to England to ensure they didn’t lose momentum. She struck 31 off 22 to help Australia post a total of 162/6.

England were quick off the blocks in their chase with Maia Bouchier taking the attack to Kim Garth with three boundaries in an over. But Australia managed to pull it back quickly by removing the openers Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge inside the Powerplay.

Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt steadied the ship with a 52-run stand but England lost both the set batters in consecutive overs to Sophie Molineux and Tahlia McGrath respectively.

McGrath capped off a fine all-round performance with two more wickets as England fell 34 runs short of the target.

India vs West Indies

Result: India won by 20 runs

India began their warm-ups for the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 20-run win over the West Indies.

The West Indies put India under pressure early, dismissing the top three batters within the Powerplay. Captain Hayley Matthews was instrumental in this, taking the key wickets of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana in back-to-back overs.

However, Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia steadied the ship for India with a crucial 50-run partnership. Rodrigues was particularly impressive, reaching a well-crafted half-century, finishing with 52 off 40 balls.

Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar provided a late surge to take India past the 140-run mark.

In their chase, the West Indies encountered a similar fate as India, losing three early wickets, including that of captain Matthews.

Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry managed to stabilise the innings with a solid 57-run partnership. However, India retaliated by taking three wickets in the span of just seven balls, shifting the momentum firmly in their favour.

Asha Sobhana ended the half-century partnership by taking a crucial wicket, and Deepti Sharma followed up with two wickets in three balls, leaving the West Indies in a precarious position at 71/6.

Chinelle Henry fought valiantly, remaining unbeaten on 59, but the West Indies struggled to find the firepower in the latter stages of their innings. Ultimately, they finished at 121/8 in their 20 overs, falling 20 runs short of the target.