Ahead of the 2024 Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, scheduled for early next month, England and New Zealand will face off in match no. 9 of the ongoing warm-up series. The game is set for 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on the 1st of October 2024, at ICC Academy Ground 2, Dubai. With New Zealand coming off a dominant win in their first warm-up and England looking to bounce back from a losing start, this match promises to be an exciting contest.
Squads:
England –
Heather Knight (C), Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath
New Zealand –
Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Players to watch out:
Dani Gibson:
The 23-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, from 17 outings, has secured 9 wickets at an economy rate of 7.42, while also adding 133 runs to the tally from 13 innings, at a strike rate of 133.00. Fresh off a successful all-round campaign in The Hundred 2024, although Dani had a quiet outing in the 1st warm-up, departing for 2 and returning figures of 0/13 (1), she can be relied upon for the goods.
Freya Kemp:
The 19-year-old all-rounder, from 12 T20I innings, has accumulated 124 runs at a strike rate of 130.52, and from 15 outings, has struck 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.79, registering bests of 51* and 2/14. Freya has been among the runs and wickets of late, and while she wasn’t the required contributor with the bat in the 1st warm-up, she chipped in with 19 runs and can be counted on for all-round efforts.
Brooke Halliday:
The 28-year-old middle-order batter, from 28 T20I outings, has posted 295 runs on the board, including the highest score of 33, while also taking 4 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 7.02. In a recent 3-match series against Australia, while Brooke didn’t score many runs, she took 3 wickets. She is a seasoned campaigner and must be backed to find her footing with the bat, stepping up her efforts.
Rosemary Mair:
The 25-year-old pacer, from 23 T20I outings, has claimed 18 wickets, including the best of 2/17, maintaining an economy rate of 6.78. Rosemary returned to the national team following an outstanding 2023-24 domestic season and translated her success into a home series against England earlier this year. Fit again, she is back in action and will be relied upon to deliver with both the bat and ball.
Pitch:
The center wicket at the ICC Academy Ground 2 offers a relatively balanced deck, as the conditions favor both batters and bowlers. Spinners, in particular, gain an advantage, and a score in the 130s is considered challenging on this track.
Weather:
With moderate winds, humidity at 49%, and the temperature expected to hover around 34°C, the conditions are pleasant for cricket. Moreover, the forecast indicates clear skies with a minimal possibility of rain.
Fantasy playing XI:
Amy Jones, Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Melie Kerr, Sophie Devine, Alice Capsey, Leigh Kasperek, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean
Match details:
Date – October 1, 2024
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – ICC Academy Ground 2, Dubai
Broadcast – Access live scores on the ICC match portal.