It comes down to the final round of matches to decide which teams will qualify for the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup India 2013.
Group A is closely bunched, with all four teams having a chance of making it to the next round of the biggest competition in women’s cricket. All four teams – defending champion England, host India, Sri Lanka and West Indies – are on equal points, with a win each from two matches.
In Mumbai on Tuesday, India takes on Sri Lanka at the Cricket Club of India in a day-night game that starts at 1430 in front of Star Sports’ cameras, while England takes on West Indies at the MCA Recreation Centre at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) from 0900. The winning sides will qualify for the Super Six stage, while net run-rate will decide which of the two losing sides progress to the next round.
On the eve of the deciding group matches, West Indies is in pole position in terms of run-rate thanks to its decisive 209-runs win against Sri Lanka at the MIG Ground on Sunday, bolstering its run-rate to a healthy +1.040. That loss has affected Sri Lanka’s run-rate adversely, and it is placed fourth with a run rate of -2.030.
India is second in the group with a healthy net run-rate of +0.730, while England is third with +0.260. All four teams would take comfort from the fact that their destinies lay in their own hands, as a win will ensure progress.
The equation in Group B is much more straightforward. Current group leader New Zealand and second-placed Australia are on two wins from two games, having each beaten Pakistan and South Africa. Both will therefore qualify for the Super Six stage. The two teams lock horns in Cuttack at the DRIEMS Cricket Ground on Tuesday from 0900.
Both sides will be looking to end the Group stage on a high, as teams that progress to the Super Six stage carry forward points from Group stage matches won against other sides that also advance.
Pakistan and South Africa play a virtual shoot-out at the Barabati Stadium from 0900 on Tuesday. With both sides having lost their opening two games, the match will be a keenly fought contest to stay afloat in the tournament. Pakistan currently sits in third place in Group B with a net run-rate of -1.672, while South Africa is in fourth with -1.761.
Teams finishing last in both groups will meet for a seventh place play-off on 7 February.
Australia, New Zealand seek Super Sixes edge
Australia’s match against New Zealand at the DRIEMS ground on Tuesday (February 5) promises to be a clash among equals, perhaps the most anticipated group B fixture of the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. With both teams coming off emphatic wins, against Pakistan and South Africa, the clash holds vital significance, given the winner gets a head start, carrying forward points into the Super Six stage. Australia has been far from convincing as an all-round package so far. The two wins notwithstanding, batting has been a major concern. While it was bowled out for 175 against Pakistan, it nearly made a mockery of what should be a straightforward run-chase of 189 against South Africa. Only Rachael Haynes, the opener, has been in some sort of form, with scores of 39 and 83 in the two outings, while others have struggled to convert starts into substantial scores. However, the other top-order batters – Meg Lanning, Alex Blackwell, Jodie Fields, the captain, can draw inspiration from Jess Cameron, a hard hitting top-order batter, who was named winner of the Belinda Clark Award, for being the country’s top female player of the year, on Monday. The bowling unit though has no such shortcomings. Despite being under pressure to make up for its batting woes, Ellyse Perry and Julie Hunter have proved to be more than a handful with the new ball. While Perry relies on pace and movement off the deck, Hunter’s accuracy makes up for her lack of pace. The spin department too is well stocked, with the experienced Erin Osborne and Lisa Sthalekar, completing a well-rounded unit, with part-timers Haynes and Lanning proving to be more than handy.
Teams (from): Australia: Jodie Fields (capt, wk), Alex Blackwell, Jess Cameron, Renee Chappell, Sarah Coyte, Holly Ferling, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Meg Lanning, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Lisa Sthalekar, Elyse Villani.
New Zealand: Suzie Bates (capt), Amy Satterthwaite, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Rachel Candy, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan (wk), Frances Mackay, Morna Nielsen, Katie Perkins, Rachel Priest, Sian Ruck, Lea-Marie Tahuhu.
Team West Indies supports Think Wise initiative
West Indies players Anisa Mohammad, Kycia Knight and Shaquana Quintyne along with coach Sherwin Campbell interacted with group of local children on Monday (February 4) as part of ICC’s Think Wise Initiative. The Think Wise Initiative aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma about HIV AIDS in cricket playing countries. The children, mostly young girls, came from far-flung rural districts of Maharashtra with UNICEF’s support. The interaction started with customary introductions followed by players conducting a coaching session for children, teaching them finer skills of the game. Children were then divided into two groups to play a round of fun cricket match. On the sidelines of the coaching session, former West Indies opener and team coach Sherwin Campbell was seen delivering motivational speeches to local UNICEF volunteers who accompanied the children, asking them to keep up their good work. During the session, the children, who were provided with an opportunity to ask questions to players, wanted to know about the players travel experiences, diet habits and training routines. Players were happy to answer all questions asked of them children. The session concluded with players advising children to continue their sporting endeavors alongside completing their education to become role models for others in their respective districts.
THINK WISE: THINK WISE is a joint partnership between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNAIDS and UNICEF that seeks to use the power of cricket to raise awareness around HIV prevention and to eliminate discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2009, some 10 million people living with HIV – more than a quarter of the global total – were from major cricketing countries (India, South Africa, Pakistan, Guyana [which competes as part of the West Indies], Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales). India and South Africa alone have nearly eight million people living with HIV.