The first semi-final of the 12th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be played between Australia and West Indies on March 30 at Basin Reserve in Wellington. Going into the semi-final, Australia have won all their seven matches in the league stage, while West Indies have won three seven matches, including one abandoned game.
Match preview
Head to Head
Australia and West Indies have played 14 ODIs against each other, out of which Australia have won 13 and West Indies have won one.
Squads
Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington
West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Anisa Mohammed (Vice Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams
Players to watch out for
Meg Lanning:
The captain of Australia is the leading run getter for the team in this World Cup with 358 runs in seven matches. She has the best score of 135 not out in this tournament and has one century and two half-centuries to her name.
Jess Jonassen:
The left arm spinner of Australia is among the highest wicket-takers for Australia in this World Cup. She has eight wickets in six matches, including the best of 13. She has an economy rate of just 3.71, which is the lowest for any Australian bowler in this tournament.
Hayley Matthews:
This West Indian all-rounder has been the leading run getter and leading wicket-taker for the team in this World Cup. The right handed opening batter has scored 226 runs in six innings, including one century. With the ball, she has picked up 10 wickets in seven matches, bowling right arm off spin.
Chinelle Henry:
This West Indian medium pacer is one of the fastest bowlers in this World Cup. She is a good new ball bowler and can trouble any batter with her raw pace. She has picked up five wickets in six innings, including the best of 3-18. She has an economy rate of under five which is good for a bowler who bowls in the powerplay.
Pitch
This will be the seventh match of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup that will be played here. Out of the last six matches, teams batting first have won two, teams batting second have won three, and one match was abandoned due to rain. The average first innings score is 208 and the average second innings score is 160. The wicket is expected to be on the slower side given the fact that the venue has already seen five complete matches being played.
Weather
The weather is expected to be cloudy with occasional rain and drizzle in the morning followed by a shower in spots in the afternoon. The average temperature will be around 19 degrees Celsius, with 65 percent chance of precipitation and 99 percent cloud cover. The wind will blow from the south-southeast.
Fantasy playing XI
Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Deandra Dottin, Beth Mooney, Hayley Matthews, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Chinelle Henry, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Shamilia Connell
Match Details
Date: March 30, 2022
Time: 3.30am IST
Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington
Live streaming: Star Sports, Disney + Hotstar
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
