3 player battles to watch out for in India vs Australia clash at 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup ft. Smriti Mandhana vs Ashleigh Gardner
India will face defending champions Australia in their crucial final group-stage match on Sunday, October 13, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE. While Australia have virtually qualified for the semi-finals, the Women in Blue and New Zealand are in a tight contest for the second spot.
Australia come into this match with a perfect record, having won all three of their games. In contrast, Harmanpreet Kaur's side lost their tournament opener to New Zealand by 58 runs. However, they have since bounced back, securing victories against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The defending champions may be without their captain Alyssa Healy, who suffered an acute right foot injury, and Tayla Vlaeminck, who dislocated her right shoulder during their previous match against Pakistan.
If the Women in Blue defeat Australia by 61 runs or more (assuming they score 150 while batting first), they will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. If they win by a smaller margin, they would hope New Zealand doesn't achieve a substantial victory in their final group clash against Pakistan.
Both teams feature standout players, capable of turning the game in their favor. On that note, we look at three player matchups to watch out for in the highly anticipated India vs Australia clash at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.
#1 Smriti Mandhana vs Ashleigh Gardner
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana had a challenging start to her campaign, with scores of 12 and 7 in her first two matches. However, she found her rhythm in the clash against Sri Lanka, contributing 50 runs off 38 balls. Smriti will look to build on this momentum, but she’ll be up against Ashleigh Gardner, who has had the upper hand in their past matchups.
Smriti was trapped LBW by Gardner during their semi-final matchup in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. This year, she faced Gardner in three innings without being dismissed in international cricket. However, her cautious strategy has led to a lower strike rate of 86.11.
Gardner has claimed five wickets in three matches in the ongoing tournament so far and will be aiming to increase her tally in the upcoming game against India. Meanwhile, Smriti will be looking to navigate the challenges posed by the off-spinner and provide a strong start for the Women in Blue.
#2 Megan Schutt vs Shafali Verma
Aussie fast bowler Megan Schutt has been outstanding in the tournament, taking seven wickets in three matches. The 31-year-old has surpassed Shabnim Ismail to become the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 World Cup history and currently holds the record for the most wickets in the shortest format, with 144 scalps in 116 games.
Schutt has consistently outperformed Indian opener Shafali Verma. The Aussie bowler dismissed the latter in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final and the semi-final of the 2023 edition.
The 20-year-old opener has tallied 77 runs in three matches in the ongoing edition and will be eager to challenge the experienced pacer in this crucial clash.
#3 Deepti Sharma vs Ellyse Perry
Another significant player matchup involves Deepti Sharma and Ellyse Perry. The Indian all-rounder has been far from her best in the ongoing tournament, taking just two wickets in three matches.
In contrast, Perry has scored 69 runs in three games and is known for her ability to shine in crucial moments, making her eager to put on an impressive performance against India.
The Women in Blue will need Deepti to dismiss Perry early in the innings. Earlier this year, Deepti got the better of Perry in a T20I series and twice in the ODI series. The 27-year-old off-spinner will be looking to claim the wicket of the Australian all-rounder and create a significant impact on the game.