Women’s T20 World Cup: What makes India Women potential title winners

With a three-run win over New Zealand Women, India Women made it to the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, becoming the first team to make it to the next round of the World Cup. Despite senior players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana flopping, and the batting not clicking in sync, India Women have defeated teams of the calibre of Australia and New Zealand. 

Here we take a glance at each element of the bowling attack and their role.

Shikha Pandey

The game against New Zealand revealed the importance of someone like Shikha Pandey to this line-up. The medium-pacer is the second-highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup so far with six wickets in three matches at an average of 8.16 and an economy just above four. Pandey was superb in the back end of the innings for India Women in the group fixture against New Zealand that led to their qualification.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma

The top wicket-taker in the tri-series before the T20 World Cup, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is as simple a spinner as they come. Tight with her channels and fearless in flighting the ball, Gayakwad has been used a lot in the powerplay to contain the top-order batters of opposition sides. Gayakwad's role might seem bizarre in this line-up, but it fulfils an important part of the plan - that of restricting teams from scoring big early on.

Like Gayakwad, Deepti has been used a lot in the powerplays. The left-arm spinner has shone with the bat and less with the ball this World Cup so far, but is a crucial player in India's bowling schemes for the tournament.

Radha Yadav

Radha Yadav came to the line-up at the expense of Arundhati Reddy, adding to India's spin arsenal. Arundhati had gone at over eight runs per over and Radha was brought in as she fit India's plans of choking opposition sides with spin. With Deepti and Gayakwad bowling a lot early, Poonam Yadav needed a partner to bowl in tandem and Radha fit the bill perfectly.  

Poonam Yadav

Poonam Yadav has eight wickets in three matches this World Cup and is the top wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup so far. The short-statured leg-spinner has been the match-winner in the two games against Australia and Bangladesh. Against the White Ferns, she grabbed the big wicket of Sophie Devine to derail New Zealand's run chase but conceded four fours to Amelia Kerr in the penultimate over of the innings. While this was a rare off-day for her, India Women had the bowling attack to cover up for her, suggesting how difficult it is for teams to get past the iron-clad choke the Harmanpreet-led side applies.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / William West

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup: Thailand humbled by England by 98 runs

Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team was beaten by England Women’s Cricket Team in Group B fixture of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 at the Manuka Oval, Canberra. Winning the toss and opting to bowl, the Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team began brightly by dismissing both the England openers for a duck but that was the last time they were in the game. Heather Knight scored an excellent 66-ball 108 to share an unbeaten 169-run stand with Natalie Sciver (59*).

In reply, the Thailand Women’s Cricket Team kept losing wickets at regular intervals to lose the game by 98 runs. Nattakan Chantam was the top scorer for the side with a score of 32 from 53 balls with four hits to the fence, batting at a strike rate of 60.38. None of the other batters crossed the 20-run mark as England bowled tight lines and lengths to not allow Thailand to getaway.

Anya Shrubsole finished with three wickets while Sciver backed her good effort with the bat to take 2/5 in her two overs. England, with that win, will feel a lot more comfortable after a historic loss to the South Africa Women’s Team in their opening encounter of the mega event. Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team, on the other hand, will look to better their batting performance as they aim to impress one and all in their first-ever appearance in the ICC World Tournament.

Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team will next take on South Africa Women on February 28, 2020 while England will look to get the better of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team when they face them on the very same day.

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T20 World Cup: Confident India Women head into Bangladesh challenge

Just a week back, India and Bangladesh tussled it out in a World Cup final with the Tigers emerging victorious. Now, as India's Women's team head into their second group game of ICC Women's T20 World Cup against Bangladesh, the colts - who lost last week in the ICC Under-19 World Cup finals to Bangladesh - will be keenly watching.

Like the colts side, the women's side has started the campaign on a big note by beating the tournament favourites and hosts Australia. Touted to be one of India Women's strongest teams at a World Cup, this Harmanpreet Kaur-led side showed promising signs during their terrific win over the Aussies.

Bangladesh are a much lesser challenge for the women's side. Making it to the T20 World Cup as a qualifier, the women's side from Bangladesh does not have the aura or class of the senior or junior men's sides. However, nothing in cricket comes easy and India Women will know that Bangladesh could just prove to be a stiff challenge on the day. 

India's impressive form in the tournament opener was largely owing to a brilliant batting performance from Deepti Sharma - who had done similarly well in the Kia Super League - and Poonam Yadav. While Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave a rousing start yet again, the middle-order continues to be a challenge although Deepti's form will give them relief.

They will still need to build sizeable totals to challenge other teams including Bangladesh, against whom they cannot be complacent. Veda Krishnamurthy said as much on the eve of the Bangladesh game although she remains one of those who has struggled for form. 

“We can’t be complacent with the victory against Australia. We have to let go of those emotions now and focus on repeating all the good things we did. We want to make sure we have enough of a score for our bowlers to defend. At the same time, we can’t be too ambitious with our strokes or risk being run short but we need to make sure we get enough runs on board Veda said.

Making good enough scores need to be prioritised. Poonam's act rescued India against Australia but it will be tough for the bowlers to always replicate that kind of performance or cover up for the batsmen. The Bangladesh game can be a good way for India to try and test their middle-order and give someone like Veda a bigger chance up the order.

With her strike rate, Veda is a baggage down the order and perhaps can be tried above Harmanpreet in the batting line-up. But will they try and ruffle a winning combination? 

SQUADS

 India women: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Richa Ghosh, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar.

Bangladesh women: Salma Khatun (c), Rumana Ahmed, Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Khadija Tul Kubra, Sobhana Mostary, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Nigar Sultana (wk), Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Sanjida Islam, Shamima Sultana.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / T20WorldCup

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How India Women sunk the Aussie ship in the tournament opener

It wasn't touted to be the match of the year, let alone month, week or even day. Yet, that's exactly what it turned into as an unfancied Indian Women's side caused a stir in the Women's T20 World Cup teapot by beating hosts and four-time title winners, Australia, by 17 runs on the opening day of the World Cup. While the contest was closely fought through most parts, impeccable planning and diligent execution from the India Women played a role in the win. Here's dissecting how they bridled the Aussies.

Using the powerplay and masking their weakness

The tri-series had given India an idea on how to push the Aussies into a corner. In the lone match where they beat the Aussie women's side, Shafali Verma started off with a blast and made a 28-ball 49. Mandhana followed suit with a 48-ball 55. The duo made 70 runs in six overs to set the stage for a brilliant run-chase. Here again, the duo adopted a similar approach of going on the offensive early. Shafali's free stroke play had the Aussies on the back-foot early on. The idea was to keep going for their shots to maximise the powerplay to hide their fallacies in the middle-order. Given a decent base, the middle-order can navigate through the middle overs without trying to up the ante much.

Aim at a par score

Even if India did get off to a great start courtesy some extraordinary ball-striking from Shafali, the wickets of the openers in successive overs pushed India back. To further their downfall, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was out to a horrendous shot to leave India reeling. Given the onus to put on a 150-plus score, India may not have coped much criticism had they carried on with their merry ways. Instead, the 150 plan was chucked altogether and the team focused on a smaller target, with Jemimah Rodriques and Deepti Sharma building a patient stand of 53 in nearly 10 overs. It seemed like India were going nowhere with their innings but the plan was to get to a par score and leave the rest to the bowling attack.

Contain with spin in the powerplay

Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney have been terrorising sides with their own attacking style early in an innings. Since 2018, the duo are the third fastest opening pair in Women's T20Is, scoring at a frenetic pace of 8.27. They have also stitched together eight half-century stands in this time frame. Scoring consistently and quickly is the hallmark of a great opening pair in T20s and Healy and Mooney represent the ideal pair in the women's game. Containing them was a huge task for India, particularly with a low total on board. Rather than trying to play to the pitch, India stuck to their strengths and opened with spin from either end. Deepti continued her spell through powerplay overs while Shikha Pandey took over from the other end. Only 33 runs came from the first powerplay as India strangled the Aussie openers, a task seemingly impossible for a lot of other teams. The wicket of Mooney was a bonus, but there was still more work to be done.

The Poonam - Taniya partnership

Breaking Australia's resolve and long middle-order needed a magical streak and Poonam Yadav produced just that. Her injury in the tri-series proved to be a blessing in disguise as the Aussie batters seemed unsure about how to handle her wrong 'uns. India had worked out that Poonam would be their surprise weapon before the game, evident from the fact that they held her back until the 10th over of the innings, soon after Meg Lanning's dismissal. In the first 9 overs, Australia had made just 58 runs, a result of India strangling them early on without trying too much for wickets.

When Poonam entered the attack, Australia had no option but to try and take her on. The required run-rate had closed in on seven and the presence of Healy - who boasts of a T20I strike rate of 170-plus in 2019 - gave them the confidence to take Poonam on. This plan was shattered in her first over as Healy looked to take her on again shortly after clubbing a six. Rachael Haynes was done in by a brilliant googly as Taniya Bhatia, prepared for such an occurrence, pulled off a brilliant stumping. To the unmatchable Ellyse Perry, Poonam had the wrong 'un up her sleeve again and cleaned her up. With Jess Jonassen's wicket, Australia were derailed completely as Bhatia, as much as Poonam, was involved in the demise of the hosts.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / PETER PARKS 

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Women’s T20 World Cup: India vs Australia - When and where to watch

While the Indian men's team are battling in the Test against New Zealand, the women’s prepare for their journey in the World T20 in a mouth-watering clash against the host and reigning champions Australia at the Sydney Showground. India Women, having won their last two T20 series against South Africa and West Indies, are strong favourites to win the championship. Australia, on the other hand, are equally strong contenders to retain their title having won it four out of six times already. 

The women in blue, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur boast of an impressive side featuring heavyweights of the game like Smriti Mandhana, Shefali Verma and Kaur herself. India would back themselves to reverse the result of their last face-off in the tri-series that also included England. In that match, India's weakness in the middle order was exposed as they lost by just 11 runs even after Kaur scored a quickfire 66 off just 37 balls. India lost four wickets for just 12 runs in that match while chasing 156. 

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team Australia

However, the bowling arsenal, led by Poonam Yadav, look to be in very good shape as they reduced West Indies for just 108 runs on 18th February. 

Australia are still ahead on head-to-head. They have managed three wins in the last five clashes while Indian eves have won twice, both in the Tri-Series. Australia's batting order is in complete sync with skipper Meg Lanning firing from the front would be the main challenge for the Indian team. 

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team India

Another notable thing to keep in mind is the condition of the wicket which has favoured the side batting first in the Big Bash League this season. The last two matches on the wicket have been disrupted by rainfall and ended up being a slow surface to bat on. However, the team batting first have won four out of five previous times.

Where to watch: Star Sports 1/1 HD, Star Sports 2/2 HD, Hotstar

When to Watch: February 21st, 1:30 PM IST

Read | India Women target upset in tournament opener against Australia Women

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @T20WorldCup

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India Women target upset in tournament opener against Australia Women

Think Australia Women and you go through a series of emotions that is likely to range from their four World titles in T20s to their six titles in ODI World Cups to Ellyse Perry- arguably the greatest women's cricketer the world has seen. The Meg Lanning-led outfit is perhaps the most dominant team the women's game has seen.

Yet, twice in the recently concluded tri-series involving India and England too, the Aussie women faltered - once against India and another against England, albeit in a Super Over. The bottom line is that Australia's women's team have a winning habit, one that has been near-impossible to break for most line-ups in the game.

As India's much-touted women's side head into Australia in the opening game of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020, their biggest worry would be breaking this winning habit that the Aussies possess. Their woes are compounded because this World Cup happens in their backyard, a place where the Aussies are domineering and are backed by a vehemently indifferent crowd.

Luckily, India have seen the Aussie wrath thrice in the recent tri-series. In the first game at Canberra, India barely resisted and Ellyse Perry made lightwork of them by single-handedly helping the Aussies to a win. In the finals, Australia strangled India with spin as Jess Jonassen picked five for 12 to help the hosts to a 11-run win.

The difference between the first and the second and third meetings between these sides in the tri-series was the manner in which India decoded the way to push Aussies into a corner. That is aassive takeaway ahead of the tournament opener.

If it was Shafali Verma's counterattack at the top in the second game - which India won - it was Smriti Mandhana with a brilliant onslaught in the finals, a 37-ball 66 studded with 12 fours that stunned the Aussies. Shafali's 28-ball 49 was as good in the second game at Melbourne that India won.

India’s chances

The key to breaking the Aussie women with the bat is to take them on and India seem to have the right openers to do this in Mandhana and Shafali. There exists the risk of losing one or both of them early on as a result of the early onslaught. But that's one India will have to carry if they are to challenge the greatest women's team ever.

With the ball, India will want their spinners choking the Aussie batters in the middle overs. Radha Yadav had a rather ordinary tri-series, but Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad had brilliant outings averaging 19.71 and 12.6 respectively. Gayakwad, in fact, topped the wickets chart with 10 wickets.

The pace attack is obviously a lot less superior to that of the Aussies who have Megan Schutt, Elysse Perry and Annabel Sutherland. India will be relieved that Aussies are deprived of the services of Tayla Vlaemnick, their quickest bowler, who was ruled out of the tournament with a stress fracture on her foot.

India's pace attack of Shikha Pandey and Arundhati Reddy do not pack as much of a punch. What they will need to do is contain the big-hitting Aussie openers, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney. Healy has the best strike rate (min 300 runs) in Women's T20Is since 2018 - a whopping 152.93. Mooney has a rate of 123.55 but is equally consistent. The likes of Rachael Haynes and Ashleigh Gardner also strike at over a rate of 130. Skipper Meg Lanning averages 50-plus in the format since 2018 and strikes at 120-plus.

Stopping these big-hitting Aussies will be India's biggest headache. If they do manage that in the tournament opener, we might just be starting to think of an era after the Aussies of Meg Lanning.

Squads

Australia Women: Meg Lanning (C), Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Delissa Kimmince, Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham

India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Taniya Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

 

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Biju Boro

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup: SWOT analysis - Pakistan Women's Team

With little knowledge of conditions and a team devoid of too much experience, Pakistan arrive for the Women's T20 World Cup in Australia. Pakistan have never made it past the first round of Women's T20 World Cups and this year their first hurdle would be to jump past this history. In 24 matches over six editions, Pakistan have won just six games and lost 18 matches, as evident a sign as any that the format isn't for them.

Squad

Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riyaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Khan, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Syeda Aroob Shah

Strength

Pakistan have a reasonably good batting core with Bismah Maroof, Aliya Riyaz and Nida Dar in decent form since 2019. While Maroof averages 40+ in the format in this time frame, Dar has three half-centuries and strikes at a pretty good rate. Javeria Khan is another batswoman capable of holding her own in any situation. The batting group remains Pakistan's biggest strength as they head into this T20 World Cup. 

Weakness

Except Nida Dar, who has played WBBL, nobody has had too much exposure to Australian pitches and conditions. That in itself could be a big drawback for Pakistan as they head into another World Cup. They have dropped senior player Sana Mir for this event, a bold call considering that she could have handled some of the youngsters in the side or offered stability in times of turmoil.

Opportunity

Bismah Maroof is the most experienced figure in this Pakistan squad and is a fine leader who knows to lead from the front. Her returns in T20Is and ODIs have been impressive and in her Pakistan have a decent example to take cues from. In a rather poor outing against England, Maroof was the standout player with three half-centuries in six matches.

 Threat

Nida Dar has experience of Australian conditions after PCB gave her the leeway to play in the WBBL by skipping International commitments. While her bowling numbers were impressive, Dar couldn't quite make an impact with the bat and ended up with just 99 runs for Sydney Thunder in over 10 games. If her batting form is similar in the World Cup, Pakistan might struggle.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ ASIF HASSAN 

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup: SWOT analysis - New Zealand Women's Team

No team that has the likes of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine will be a mere pushover and that essentially is what makes the White Ferns confident ahead of the T20 World Cup. Since finishing as the runners up in successive tournaments in 2009 and 2010, the White Ferns have performed below par. They finished as semi-finalists in 2012 and 2016 but exited in the first round last T20 World Cup.

Squad

Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Lea Tahuhu

Strength

Two real superstar cricketers, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, carry the White Ferns and have been carrying them through the six T20 tournaments they have played so far. Bates and Devine's form will decide if New Zealand will have a bad tournament. But for them to have a great tournament, the other players too need to step up. Luckily, the Kerr sisters are in fine form with Amelia and Jess shining in the Women's Suepr Smash. Jess finished as the top wicket-taker with 20 wickets in the latest edition and will be a good x-factor bowler for them this tournament.

Weakness

Picking up wickets has been an issue for the New Zealand women who struggled in this aspect in the recent series against South Africa women. They were defeated in three matches and performed well below par suggesting how their plans could go awry if the bowlers do not complement the experienced batters. They need their other team members to punch above their weight this tournament.

Opportunity

That they play in conditions very similar to what they get at home could favour the White Ferns who struggled in the last tournament in the Caribbean Islands. The nature of pitches and weather conditions remain familiar to them and their pace bowling all-rounders and handy bowling assets could just punch together to lift them from the group stages after which Bates and Devine are truly capable of single-handedly giving them a rare trophy.

Threat

Leigh Kasperek is a senior customer with the ball and her form will be vital to White Ferns' chances. She has taken more T20I wickets than all but Devine for New Zealand Women. 17 of her 58 wickets have come in T20 World Cups. The spinner was the joint top wicket-taker in the 2016 World Cup where the White Ferns made the semis. Her economy rate and how she pairs up with Amelia Kerr could well decide how New Zealand dictate games in the middle overs.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ MICHAEL BRADLEY 

 

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT analysis: Team England

Despite finishing third in the tri-series involving Australia and India, England are strong contenders to challenge for the title as the Women's T20 World Cup gets underway in Australia. Led by Heather Knight, England pack a punch across departments and have one of the best sides heading into the World Cup. There's an overdose of talented players in the team and their chances might come down to how well they use what's available to them.

Squad

Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver, Lauren Winfield, Fran Wilson, Freya Davies, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Sarah Glenn, Georgia Elwiss, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT analysis: Team West Indies

Strength

With Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt at the top and a wealth of experienced middle-order batswomen to follow, England have one of the best batting line-ups for the tournament. In Tammy Beaumont, they have a no.3 capable of doing the openers' job if required and the middle-order is packed with players of the quality of Knight and Fran Wilson.

The bowling has an all-round feel to it with Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn posing major threats in the spin department. Katherine Brunt remains a potent pace option while Freya Davies also offers recent form.

Weakness

England have a few question marks hanging over the head of seamer Anya Shrubsole. The key player seems indispensable to England but they seem unsure about how to use her. 

In the batting line-up, they moved Beaumont around in the batting order to find the right balance but still seem uncertain about it. Their chances could hinge on how they use some of these exciting new players and waning, yet useful experienced players.

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team India

Opportunity

Amy Jones impressed in the Big Bash season with 391 runs including three half-centuries for Perth Scorchers. She knows the conditions well having plied her trade in the WBBL just like her opening partner, Wyatt. For Melbourne Renegades, Wyatt slammed 468 runs at an average of 39, finishing as the seventh-highest run-scorer in the league. 

Threat

A key part of England's line-up is Nat Sciver. The all-rounder missed the final warm-up game against Sri Lanka with a knee injury and although she has been touted to return before the first game England play, there are concerns surrounding her injury. The all-rounder is a vital member in England's plans for the T20 World Cup and has helped balance the team. She isn't regularly filling up her quota of overs which remains another concern given how the knee injury could further dampen her all-round qualities.

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team Australia

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / Heatherknight55

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT analysis: Team South Africa

The South African Women's team, like their men's team, have been underachievers in the big tournament, qualifying to the knockout phase just once in seven attempts. Led by Dane van Niekerk, South Africa sure have a juicy line-up this time around. They may not be title-contenders but they sure can cause a few upsets and make the qualification to the next round.

Squad

Dane van Niekerk (c), Chloe Tryon (vc), Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Laura Wolvaardt

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT analysis: Team England

Strength

The South African batting line-up packs a reasonably good punch with Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus at the top of the order. With Chloe Tyron in good form from the Women's Big Bash League, where her strike rate was the best for batswomen in the season, they have a good finisher too. Batting floundering was one of South Africa's major concerns in World Cups, but this batting line-up sure seems capable of hurdling past this roadblock.

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT analysis: Team West Indies

Weakness

South Africa have serious concerns regarding their big players being fully fit for this tournament. Since the end of the last World Cup, they have seen bouts of injuries with senior players missing big games. How the likes of Van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp and Trisha Chetty adapt to the conditions on offer and refresh themselves after the injury breaks could decide South Africa's fate in the World Cup.

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team Australia

Opportunity

Sune Luus, the leg-spinning all-rounder, is revelling in her new role at the top of the order alongside Lizelle Lee. A century was followed by a haul 6-45 in New Zealand last month as the Proteas won the ODIs 3-0. Luus will be a key figure for the Proteas with her all-round capabilities this World Cup. Stepping up as skipper for Van Niekerk, Luus has become more responsible too as a player.

Threat

In six World Cup campaigns, South Africa have managed to get past the group stage just once. In 23 World T20 matches, they have won just eight to-date. That they lack confidence is certain. To what extent it will affect them this World Cup remains to be seen.

Read | ICC Women's T20 World Cup - SWOT Analysis: Team India

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / ProteasWomen

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