Match 8 in the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026 serves as a crucial crossroads for both teams in Group A. The United States of America (USA) Women are coming off a 21-run loss to Bangladesh where they showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately couldn’t cross the line, leaving them in third place with a -1.050 NRR. Namibia is the X-factor here; they haven’t taken the field yet in this tournament. For the USA, it’s about getting off the mark before the pressure becomes unbearable, while Namibia will be looking to make an immediate impact and leapfrog their rivals in the standings.
Squads:
Namibia Women’s Cricket Team
Bianca Manuel, Edelle Van Zyl, Leigh-Marie Visser, Jurriene Diergaardt, Kayleen Green, Sune Wittmann, Wilka Mwatile, Merczerly Gorases, Sylvia Shihepo, Yasmeen Khan, Eveleen Kejarukua, Mekelaye Mwatile, Naomi Benjamin, Victoria Hamunyela
United States of America Women’s Cricket Team
Aditiba Chudasama, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, Suhani Thadani, Disha Dhingra, Gargi Bhogle, Geetika Kodali, Jessica Willathgamuwa, Jivana Aras, Lekha Shetty, Maahi Madhavan, Mitali Patwardhan, Pooja Ganesh, Ritu Singh, Saanvi Immadi
Players to watch out:
Yasmeen Khan
As one of Namibia’s most experienced campaigners, Yasmeen Khan has been the heartbeat of her side’s batting since their international debut in 2018. She enters this qualifier with 1958 runs to her name and a career-best score of 78*, proving her status as a high-class middle-order anchor and a vital cog for her unit.
Wilka Mwatile
Wilka Mwatile remains one of the most effective all-rounders in African cricket, consistently delivering impact with both her right-arm medium pace and powerful lower-order hitting. Her career stats are bolstered by a phenomenal 5/6 bowling performance, and she currently sits with 83 international wickets and is a key asset for her side going ahead into the tournament.
Chetna Pagydyala
Chetna was a consistent presence in the USA’s first outing, contributing 36 runs off 31 balls. She found the boundary five times, showing good technical skill and an ability to rotate the strike under pressure. As the tournament progresses, her stability in the batting lineup will be crucial for the USA’s chances.
Maahi Madhavan
Maahi was the pick of the American bowlers, showing great composure to take 3 wickets for 23 runs. She bowled her full four overs with an economy of 5.75, proving to be the most effective way for her team to break dangerous partnerships. Her performance was a big positive for the USA in an otherwise challenging match.
Pitch:
Mulpani Cricket Ground offers a balanced turf wicket with true bounce and pace, favoring seamers early before spin grips later. T20 records from 13 matches show 151 average first innings score, with teams bowling first winning 8. The quick outfield and 60-70m boundaries encourage attacking cricket.
Weather:
The weather forecasts sunny skies throughout the day. The high temperature will be 19°C, dipping to a low of 5°C after dark. Humidity will be around 50% with a gentle 6 mph breeze coming from the west, making for excellent outdoor conditions.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Bianca Manuel, Leigh-Marie Visser, Kayleen Green, Wilka Mwatile, Yasmeen Khan, Victoria Hamunyela, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, Geetika Kodali, Jivana Aras, Lekha Shetty, Maahi Madhavan
Match Details:
Date – January 20, 2025
Time – 12:45 PM IST
Venue – Mulpani Cricket Ground, Nepal
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
