The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 is less than a day away, and we witnessed some quality encountered and surprising results in the warm-ups on the 6th and 8th of February that preceded the main event. Here’s what unfolded and transpired for each of the teams.
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Australia Women’s Cricket team
The warm-ups turned out to be a mixed bag for Australia. Registering a characteristic win versus India in their first warm-up game, they were stunned by Ireland in their second warm-up game. Although both the games did have their positives to take away, the loss versus Ireland would certainly ring some alarm bells for the defending champions who wish to achieve a ‘three-peat’ in this World Cup.
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England Women’s Cricket team
England has had a remarkable set of warm-up games that has put them in the groove. In the match against South Africa, they were clinical in their 17-run victory. Even in the match against New Zealand, a scintillating batting and bowling effort paved the way for a famous victory in the second warm-up game putting England in good stead.
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India Women’s Cricket team
India has had a mixed bag in the World Cup. Australia got the better of them in spite of an inspired bowling performance, but it was in the match against Bangladesh that they came on their own, registering a dominant 52 runs win on the back of a good batting and bowling effort.
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Pakistan Women’s Cricket team
Pakistan, too, will enter the group stage of the World Cup on the back of some competitive cricket as they claimed a six-wicket win versus Bangladesh, where their batting and bowling was tested. In the match against South Africa, they got an acid test as they were subjected to a six-wicket loss, and a shaky batting outing worsened the situation.
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South Africa Women’s Cricket team
The hosts, South Africa were tormented in the warm-up game 1 versus England as chasing a mountain hill 246; they fell shy of 17 runs, but in the second warm-up match, they registered a dominant win versus Pakistan as an inspired bowling effort helped them massively.
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Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team
Bangladesh had a tough outing in their World Cup as they slumped to two consecutive losses in their warm-ups. In the first warm-up versus Pakistan, they did present themselves as tough competitors, and there were some stellar gritty knocks in the tough conditions, yet it was not enough to pull off a win. In the second warm-up match against India, they were completely outplayed as they lost by 52 runs.
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Ireland Women’s Cricket team
Ireland will be entering the group stages of the World Cup on the back of some remarkable and memorable performances in the warm-ups. Losing to Sri Lanka by a whisker after playing quality cricket, they were itching for a win and that came against the heavyweights and potential favourites of the World Cup, Australia. What makes the win all the more spectacular is how they chased down a massive 169 to win, and this win will certainly give them a lot of confidence and morale heading into the World Cup.
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New Zealand Women’s Cricket team
New Zealand also will be marking their territory and presenting itself as a strong side as they comfortably drubbed the West Indies as a good batting effort helped them, but they faced a real threat in England as they could not match the might of the strong side slumping to a five-wicket loss.
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West Indies Women’s Cricket team
West Indies, the champions of the global tournament in the past, finds themselves in testing waters recently and will want to make a mark in the World Cup. In the first warm-up game, losing to New Zealand was a rude wake-up call, but a formidable win versus Sri Lanka will give them some positives to take in their stride.
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Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket team
Sri Lanka, the island nation with an interesting squad and a stomach for a fight every single time they step on a cricket field, had a slew of not-so-convincing results in the warmup games. Pulling off an agonizingly close win versus Ireland, they were humbled by West Indies and would certainly want to re-strategize and come stronger for the World Cup.
With these exciting results at the warm-up games, we have so much to look forward to in the group stages, so strap your seatbelts for a rollercoaster ride this edition in South Africa!
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.