Confident after two close games and a morale-boosting win against host
India in its previous encounter at the same venue, Pakistan’s Sana Mir
and her girls would be hoping to continue their good form when they take
on Bangladesh in their third Group B game of the women’s World Twenty20
at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium here on Thursday.
The Pakistan team edged past India, courtesy a dominating performance
with both bat and ball and a little help from Messrs Duckworth and
Lewis, and its familiarity with the conditions here would give it an
edge against Bangladesh in the crucial game. While Bangladesh has lost
all its three games so far and is out of reckoning, a win would help
Pakistan stay in the race for a semifinal spot.
Given that its last group match would be against former champion
England, Sana has admitted she would be hoping to register a
comprehensive win in case it goes down to the net run rate. The match
would also be important to ascertain India’s chances of remaining in the
race for the knockouts.
Pakistan has won all six Twenty20 Internationals played so far against
Bangladesh and on form appears favourite to continue the record. Every
department of the team has contributed in both its games so far, even
though it lost narrowly to the West Indies.
Against India, Sana utilised her spin resources superbly even as
youngster Anam Amin picked up her second Player of the Match in as many
games. That, however, doesn’t discount the pace attack at her disposal
while the batting has shone as well.
For Bangladesh skipper Jahanara Alam, this would be a face-saver more
than anything else. The lanky pacer has admitted to abysmal bowling and
fielding by her team and upset at the players repeating mistakes in the
field. “Hopefully we will do better in our last game,” she said after
losing to the West Indies. That, however, looks unlikely given the
team’s performances so far.
AUSTRALIA TAKES ON LANKA
The other game of the double header on Thursday would see defending
champion Australia take on Sri Lanka in Group A, hoping to get back to
winning ways after suffering a six-wicket defeat to trans-Tasmanian
rival New Zealand.
A two-time champion Meg Lanning’s team is tied on points with Sri Lanka
with a win and loss apiece. However, it is favourite to win this
encounter against a side that it is yet to play a T20 International
against and has crushed in all three ODIs played so far. While New
Zealand has already qualified for the semifinals from the group by
virtue of winning all its three games so far, a win for Australia here
would be important in its pursuit of a hat-trick.
Sri Lanka, despite losing all-rounder captain Shashikala Siriwardene to
injury, bounced back to win against Ireland in its previous game and
with Sugandika Kumari’s left-arm spin doing the most damage.
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