Eying a second title, the 2016 T20 World Cup champions, West Indies, will face New Zealand, who are eyeing their best-ever finish following two runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2010, in Semi-Final 2 of the ongoing 9th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. The game will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on the 18th of October 2024, at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). Fantasy XI fans confused about player selections? We’ve sorted the best options based on statistics and form—let us help you!
Fantasy Playing XI:
Shemaine Campbelle, Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Hayley Matthews, Melie Kerr, Deandra Dottin, Sophie Devine, Afy Fletcher, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson
Keeper-batter:
Shemaine Campbelle
The 32-year-old top-order batter, from 107 T20I outings, has accumulated 1,308 runs, including the highest of 47, while also taking 34 wickets from 44 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 5.11. She hasn’t bowled of late, now contributing as a keeper-batter. Averaging her career-best of 22.00 and scoring the most runs, 221*, in a year, Shemaine has had a notable 2024 so far. In this World Cup campaign, she has managed a couple of starts with scores of 17 and 21 and would want to build on these, making her a reliable pick for your Fantasy XI.
Batters:
Suzie Bates
The 37-year-old opening batter, from 166 T20I outings, has amassed 4,526 runs at an average of 29.38, a strike rate of 108.53, and from 88 innings has picked up 58 wickets at an economy rate of 6.59, while registering bests of 124* and 4/26. Suzie was in notable form leading up to the World Cup, amassing 316 runs from 14 T20Is, and continuing her form in this campaign, she has registered scores of 27, 20, 17, and 28. She could convert this string of starts into a substantial score, making her a good pick.
Georgia Plimmer
The 20-year-old top-order batter, from 28 T20I outings, has posted 354 runs, including the highest of 53. Georgia was struggling for runs leading up to the World Cup, managing only 132 runs from 9 outings. However, she has timely found her footing in international cricket, scoring a solid 53 against Australia in a bilateral, and has followed up with scores of 34, 4, 53, and 17 in the World Cup league games. She’ll look to extend this return to form into the business end of the tournament, making her a dependable pick in your XI.
All-rounders:
Hayley Matthews
The 26-year-old opening batter, from 100 T20Is, has racked up 2,441 runs at an average of 25.69 and a strike rate of 112.90, while also scalping 103 wickets from 93 bowling innings, maintaining an economy rate of 5.88, and registering bests of 132 and 4/10. Hayley continued her exceptional form from last year into this one, and though she had a quiet start to this World Cup campaign, registering scores of 10 and 8, she has followed up with scores of 34 and 50, alongside bowling figures of 0/22, 1/21, 1/19, and 2/35. Given her form, she should be a certain pick in your XI.
Melie Kerr
The 24-year-old all-rounder, from 65 T20I innings, has added 1,246 runs at an average of 25.95 and a strike rate of 108.72, while also securing 88 wickets from 81 bowling outings, maintaining an economy rate of 6.05, and recording bests of 70* and 4/20. Melie was in good form with both bat and ball and built on the momentum, registering scores of 13, 29, 34*, and 9, alongside bowling figures of 1/19, 4/26, 2/13, and 3/14 in this campaign. She has been a standout and her ability to deliver all-round performances makes her a rewarding pick in any XI.
Deandra Dottin
The 33-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, from 129 outings, has amassed 2,784 runs at an average of 26.01, and from 68 bowling innings has bagged 63 wickets at an economy rate of 6.40, with bests of 112* and 5/5. Deandra reversed her international retirement a few days out from the World Cup and managed a few good scores in a domestic T20 competition. In this campaign, she stepped up her efforts, scoring important runs of 13, 28*, 19*, and 27, while also taking a wicket in her only bowling innings, making her a must-have.
Sophie Devine
The 35-year-old all-rounder, from 137 T20I outings, has amassed 3,373 runs at an average of 28.58, a strike rate of 121.24, and from 120 bowling innings has 117 wickets to her name at an economy rate of 6.58, while registering bests of 105 and 4/22. Sophie put behind her lean patch by scoring an unbeaten 57 in their World Cup opener, and though she departed for 7 in the subsequent outing, she followed up with scores of 13* and 19, while not bowling much to manage her workload. She’ll look to make the most of this form, making her a valuable pick.
Bowlers:
Afy Fletcher
The 37-year-old leg-spinner, from 83 T20I outings, has struck 81 wickets, including the best of 5/13, maintaining an economy rate of 5.99, while also being handy with the bat on a few occasions. Afy has had an outstanding run this year, striking 24 wickets from 12 T20Is, averaging 10.91 and maintaining an economy rate of 5.90, largely due to her World Cup success. Her returns from this campaign read 0/24, 3/22, 2/25, and 3/21. She’ll be looking to extend this form into the business end, continuing to lead the wickets tally, making her an essential pick.
Lea Tahuhu
The 34-year-old pacer, from 93 T20I outings, has claimed 92 wickets, including the best of 4/6, maintaining an economy rate of 6.28, while also being handy with the bat on a few occasions. Lea had been in promising form this year, claiming 14 wickets from as many T20Is while also conceding a few runs. Nonetheless, she has been at her wicket-taking and economical best in this World Cup campaign, producing figures of 3/15, 0/22, 0/15, and 1/8. She has been in great rhythm, and her ability to extract off the surface makes her a strong pick.
Rosemary Mair
The 25-year-old pacer, from 27 T20I innings, has scalped 25 wickets, including the best of 4/19, maintaining an economy rate of 6.49. Rosemary returned to the senior national setup earlier this year on the back of a successful domestic season, and after a brief period, had to sit out of the team due to an injury. Rosemary timely recovered for the World Cup, had a successful outing in a bilateral against Australia leading up to the World Cup, and her returns in this campaign read 4/19, 2/22, 0/17, and 1/18. Her consistent return makes her a key pick.
Eden Carson
The 23-year-old off-spinner, from 28 T20I innings, has scalped 35 wickets at an average of 16.48, an economy rate of 6.27, and recorded the best of 3/18. In what was a poor lead-up for New Zealand to this World Cup, Eden still found some success and has capitalized on that momentum, producing bowling figures of 2/34, 0/36, 1/19, and 2/7 in this World Cup campaign. She has stepped up, producing key breakthroughs and will remain important for the team’s success in the knockouts, making her a crucial pick.
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