Have you wondered about some key predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020? This is Cricket’s grandest stage and if one may put it, then the mother of all sporting battles in the women’s game, an aspect of cricket that’s truly come of age, staring the bleak critics in the eye who doubted its reach.
And here we are: just hours away from the start of the seventh edition of the Women’s T20 world cup.
While there’s hardly any dearth of outstanding talents from various parts of cricketing geography that’s vying for the coveted title, the prized win shall only adorn one special team; those who persist and go beyond everything. Yet, there are expected to be several interesting battles and moments all along.
That said, who’ll be the big influencers on this stage and who’ll dominate the different departments of the game?
It’s time to visit some predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020!
Lizelle Lee Will Top Score, Luus & Niekerk Will Clinch Most Scalps For SA
The ball travels a great mile when it connects the bat of Lizelle Lee perhaps as understated a batswoman in the game as she’s contentedly and cheerily away from any kind of shenanigans in the sport.
A determined and fearless striker of the ball, Lee, who’s scored 232 runs, including 1 fifty from 13 World T20 games, will emerge as the top scorer for her Proteas side.
She’s someone who’s been in terrific ODI form of late versus the Kiwis against whom she struggled in the briefest format, one where she’d like to raise her game in the next few days.
And she’ll succeed at doing so. After all, a smashing record of 1500 plus T20 runs, decorated by 12 fifties and a strike rate well above 100 indicates there’s a habit of scoring freely and in aplenty.
At the same time, the foxy Sune Luus, a leg-spinning all-rounder, who’s just as effective and vital at creating breakthroughs for her side as her captain van Niekerk will emerge the best of the lot in the Proteas camp.
She’ll perhaps go onto claim a four for. And if not, will definitely scalp a match-winning 3-for, starring as one of the forces that’ll take the Proteas to the semi stage.
Pakistan Will Struggle, Will Likely Miss The Bus To Semis
Among the key predictions for Women’s World Cup 2020 is that Pakistan’s struggles, evident in past editions too, will haunt the vastly-talented side.
Pakistan have taken a big, bold and perhaps their cricket-defining step by opting to look over the legendary Sana Mir. It’s a sort of equation that could be likened to an India without Mithalj Raj.
Nonetheless, in the absence of Mir, while Pakistan’s somewhat batting-heavy unit will score plenty at the back of Bismah and Javeria’s craft, they won’t be able to evade similar fate experienced in previous editions: that of going past the group stage.
A reach toward the semis will be quite tough unless the entire playing eleven comes together to shine as one unit, which, given Pakistan’s quintessential ominous nature that’s known to suddenly go berserk could happen. But seems very tough unless their opponents play very poorly.
Either India or Australia Will Reach The Finals
Is this among the key predictions for Women’s T2o World Cup 2020 that you’ve been thinking about too?
India were the semis last year while the Australians have been the most successful and sensational in all Women’s T20 World Cup editions so far.
Clearly, India lag what the Aussies already have in plenty: the coveted 4 separate Women’s T20 World Cup Titles.
That said, both sides seem to be in an interesting balance.
On the one hand, there’s India, who despite current middle-order frailties seem a powerful set up comprising big names in Mandhana and Kaur and plenty of spin talent in Gayakwad, Yadav, and Sharma.
Then, on the other hand, there’s Australia, who despite their history of triumphs and outstanding all-round potential, boosted further by the arrival of Annabel Sutherland ( one for the future according to Perry) have found themselves wanting by none other than India, in the recent women’s Tri-series.
We reckon these talismanic and enterprising sides that entertain as much as they thrill will come up trumps and either of them shall find themselves in the final.
Either Among Danny Wyatt and Heather Knight Will Top Score For England
Perhaps this one may not come as a big surprise among the key predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
In T20 World Cup games, Knight has scored only 176 runs from 15 games striking a highest score of only 29. Her strike rate has been 88 and a slightly underwhelming batting average of just about 20.
But make no mistake. The greats of the game are hardly confounded or derailed by temporary setbacks.
Where her current form serves an example then there’s no denying the fact that Knight, with scores of 45*, 78, 67 was the most prolific English woman in the recent l Tri-series, also held in Australia.
A player for the big occasion, Knight, who’s just 54 away from 1000 T20 runs (3 fifties) will be raring to go and make it count on the big stage, the elite platform for the women’s game.
Throughout the series, the English captain will be closely among vital and handy runs and would likely end up scoring just as much as the experienced and free-scoring Wyatt (1541 runs, 84 innings, 9 not outs) who’s played nearly 35 more T20s than the smiling Knight.
Harman Will Give A Fight To Smriti For Most Runs Scored For India
Both of them are charismatic, and both are big scorers of runs.
Last year, the current Indian T20 captain outscored the ever-belligerent Smriti Mandhana, her deputy by the daintiest margin of 5 runs, scoring 183 runs from 5 innings in the women’s T20 World Cup 2018. Her batting average was an incredible 45, several notches up on the exquisite batswoman Mandhana.
Moreover, Harman collected vital runs at an incredible strike rate of 160.
This year too, the right-hander will nearly outscore the famous Smriti Mandhana and shall succeed in scoring at least 2 vital half-centuries.
Mandhana, on the other hand, will be no lame pushover either; she’ll score aggressively and take India to fine starts in the famous league.
Given Harman’s monk-like trait to keep cool under pressure, it’s hardly a surprise that her scoring more or very nearly the same as Mandhana features among the key predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
OZ Pacers Will Give A Hard Time, Perry Won’t Be Highest Wicket-Taker
Now, you might call this among the interesting ones in the list of predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
The game appears a different contest altogether when two of Australia’s most potent and feared fast bowlers run in, steaming into the batswomen.
In Schutt and Perry- the victors of as many as 4 Women’s T20 World Cup crowns- have genuine and redoubtable march winning talent!
Interestingly, both bowlers’ game appears to complement one other, often fetching similar returns.
Wondering how?
Perry and Schutt -combined- have collected 189 wickets from T20Is.
Of these 76 dismissals belong to Schutt, while 113 go to Perry. In all, both have played 177 games in all- of which Perry has played 116 alone.
Now, this is interesting. Schutt’s best is 4 for 22 while Perry’s best returns read 4 for 12. Furthermore, Perry’s economy is 5.8 while Schutt’s is 5.9. Both being under 6 is remarkable for T20 Cricket. Both fast bowlers will grind their opponents in this series.
During the last edition of the women’s World T20, held in the Windies in 2018, Schutt bettered Perry for most wickets by an Aussie in the Women’s T 20 World Cup 2018 by just 1 wicket. In all, she took 10 wickets from 6 games versus the all rounder’s 9, and at an even better economy of 5.12 vis-a-vis Perry’s 5.56.
This year too, Schutt- one of Australia’s most reliable medium pacers, renowned for her cutters- will ramp up nearly as many wickets as the more experienced star contesting alongside her in Perry.
Devine And Bates’s Scores Will Run Closer To One Another
Simple equation. You needn’t go far. Bates + Devine = nearly 5400 runs. Of these many, Bates has alone compiled 3195 with 21 fifties and a ton.
A T20 ton, which actually came several seasons before the current Kiwi captain notched up her special century, as witnessed by hapless Proteas Women just weeks ago.
At the same time, Devine, who’s been in a form that’s undoubtedly divine has collected 13 fifties. Moreover, what can any bowling attack do dislodge two of the most dangerous hitters of the ball, a dazzling duo whose average strike rate is above 120?
There’s hardly a doubt what the “Smash Sisters” can do. But what one reckons is that in the 2020 Women’s World Cup- both Bates and Devine, who debuted nearly around the same time( Sophie arriving in 2006 while Suzie came in 2007) will score nearly at par with one another.
Quite simply, on past history and current form (ominous that it is), this one had to feature among the key predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
Veterans Anisa, Brunt Will Try Their Heart Out But With Limited Success
Perhaps, here’s a surprise entry among the predictions for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020!
108 matches 118 wickets. 3 fifers. 4 four fors. Eco is 5.5. Debuted in 2008 in T20s. What an emphatic record that is- isn’t it?
But that’s the overall picture for one of the Caribbean cricket’s greatest talents in the Women’s T20 internationals. Look closer at just her World T20 records and you’re left wanting.
Purely in Women’s World T20s, Anisa has taken just 20 wickets from 23 games. Her World T20 economy is slightly higher at 5.79 than her career mark of 5.5.
She’s yet to take a four-for in any women’s World T20 game, her best bowling performance being 3 for 17.
While there’s hardly any doubt regarding the abilities of the foxy experienced daughter of Trinidad, somehow the big stage hasn’t yet seen Anisa unfurl the fireworks from her weapon of choice- spin bowling.
Yet make no mistake, she’s the most successful Caribbean bowler ever in the World T20 Internationals, a feat she can be proud of.
That said, this year too, Anisa will try her everything but shall, at the most, emerge with a three-for.
A similar tale might go for the great Katherine Brunt- a true hero of the game- someone with 81 wickets from 78 T20Is, a force to reckon with for England, who’s been competing tirelessly for an incredible stay in the game for a decade and a half.
While Brunt is someone who’s been around much before talents like Shafali, Afy Fletcher, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Laura Woolvardt (to quote a few) even cemented their places in their respective sides, clearly at 35- Barnsley’s best isn’t getting any younger.
Thus far, Brunt’s best bowling figures are 3 for 6 in T20Is. In this edition, she’ll possibly match her best of 3 for but looks uncertain of taking a four-for. In all World Cup games, she’s taken 13 wickets from 16 games and had to face the ignominy of missing the last edition in 2018.
Yet, while others in her team will more likely take more wickets this series, we ought to tip our hat to someone who’s been around for 15 years.
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