The stage is set at Sharjah Cricket Stadium as India faces defending champions Australia in their final group match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. After losing to New Zealand in the opener, India bounced back with wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Australia, undefeated in their two matches, is preparing to take on Pakistan in Dubai before the crucial Sharjah clash.
To stay in the race for the semi-finals, India needs to beat Australia and watch other results closely. Spinners are expected to play a key role in this match. In Sharjah, spinners have been more successful, taking 59 wickets at an economy rate of 5.70, compared to the pacers’ 30 wickets at 5.41. This trend might continue in the upcoming games as well.
India’s Spinners
India has relied heavily on their spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana throughout the tournament. While they struggled against New Zealand, managing to take only one wicket, the spinners bounced back with standout performances against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In the three matches at the Dubai International Stadium, India’s spinners have taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 5.79, slightly behind the pacers’ 12 wickets at 5.64. Asha Sobhana, the leg-spinner, has been the standout performer with five wickets. Her ability to generate sharp turns and mix up her deliveries has made her one of the most dangerous bowlers in this tournament, constantly troubling the batters.
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As India gears up to face Australia in an epic clash, spinners will have a crucial role to play in Sharjah.
Get insights from @snehasis_95 & @Fancricket12 on the conditions and the key spinners from both sides who can make an impact.@OfficialFanatic @BCCIWomen #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Xi8CiFn0yk
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 11, 2024
Australia’s Spinners
While the Sharjah pitch has generally favoured spinners, Australia’s pacers have been more effective in the tournament so far. In two matches, Australia’s pace bowlers have taken 10 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.67, while the spinners have managed only seven wickets at 4.91. Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham have kept things tight but have not consistently taken wickets.
However, Sophie Molineux has stood out, claiming four wickets at an economy rate of 4.82. Her left-arm spin has been particularly effective, and she has caused trouble for batters, especially given her excellent performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women in the last WPL season. Molineux seems to have mastered the Sharjah conditions, making her a key player for Australia.
The Dubai International pitch has been slightly better for batting compared to Sharjah. This gives Team India confidence that their spinners, who have already performed well on the Dubai track, will be even more dangerous in Sharjah. The conditions should suit them even better.
For Australia, however, the psychological advantage lies in their familiarity with the Sharjah wicket. Their spinners have already adapted to the conditions in their previous two matches. This sets up an exciting contest where both spin units will play crucial roles. The team that tackles the spinners with more authority and a clear strategy will likely come out on top!
Also Read: India’s victory over Sri Lanka: Five Talking Points