In the Final of the 02 edition of the Women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) Pacific Cup, Aotearoa Māori and Papua New Guinea will go head-to-head at Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, Auckland, on the 21st of January 2024, at 7:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Aotearoa Māori – Kerry-Anne Tomlinson (C), Skye Bowden (VC), Jess McFadyen (VC, WK), Dayle Anderson, Georgia Atkinson, Nicole Baird, Ocean Bartlett, Jessica Benge, Eden Carson, Olivia Clark, Claire Crooks, Samantha Curtis, Marama Downes, Mollie Drumm, Mereana Hyde, Caitlin King, Macy Lyford, Sam Mackinder, Emma Parker, Jess Smith, Anika Todd, Holly Topp (WK)
Papua New Guinea – Brenda Tau (C), Sibona Jimmy (VC), Vicky Araa, Kaia Arua, Vicky Buruka, Kevau Frank, Dika Lohia, Erani Pokana, Tanya Ruma, Pauke Siaka, Henao Thomas, Geua Tom (WK), Isabel Toua, Naoani Vare
Players to watch out:
Jess McFadyen
The 32-year-old keeper-batter wasn’t at her best in the lead-up to the Pacific Cup, accumulating 119 runs from 8 Smash outings. However, come the Pacific Cup, Jess has registered scores of 29 and 35, and the team will rely on their seasoned campaigner to step up for the side.
Ocean Bartlett
The 20-year-old leg-spinner has excelled with the ball in this tournament, picking up 6 wickets from just a couple of outings, averaging 4.66, and maintaining an economy rate of 4.00. Ocean, in her most recent outing, produced figures of 4/14, and the team will count on her to carry forward this momentum into the final.
Tanya Ruma
The 30-year-old batter, from 45 Twenty20 International (T20I) outings, has racked up 1097 runs, averaging 33.24 and notched up the highest of 69*. Tanya was dismissed for a duck in the season opener and has followed up with scores of 21, 50*, and 20*. It’ll be expected of her to lead the scoring in this must-win.
Kaia Arua
The 33-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, from 42 bowling innings, has taken 59 wickets, including the best of 5/7, and added 341 runs to the tally from 30 innings. In the competition, Kaia, while consistently bagging wickets, has also chipped in with late runs. She’ll be banked upon for the goods.
Pitch:
With an average score in the 90s, the 22 yards at the Lloyd Elsmore Park 1 makes up a well-balanced pitch that offers a fair contest between bat and ball. While batters find delight in the wicket, bowlers, particularly pacers hold the upper hand.
Weather:
With light winds, a humidity level of 88%, and the temperature forecasted to hover around 28°C, the conditions promise a complete game of cricket. Despite cloudy overhead, the chances of rain are minimal.
Fantasy playing XI:
Brenda Tau, Jess McFadyen, Tanya Ruma, Naoani Vare, Jess Smith, Kaia Arua, Ocean Bartlett, Anika Todd, Mollie Drumm, Isabel Toua, Nicole Baird
Match details:
Date – January 21, 2024
Time – 7:30 AM IST
Venue – Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, Auckland
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the New Zealand Cricket YouTube channel.
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