India face England in 2018 semis rematch
SYDNEY: India will take on England in the semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday while champions Australia will face South Africa in the other semi-final on Friday.
The knockout fixtures were confirmed after South Africa topped their group after their match against West Indies was abandoned due to rain on Tuesday.
The line-up was confirmed when South Africa and West Indies were awarded a point each after no play was possible due to rain in the group stage’s final game at the Sydney Showground.
The inconsequential match between Thailand and Pakistan couldn’t be completed after Thailand posted their best-ever total.
Only India emerged from the group stage with a perfect record. The clash with England will be a re-run of the 2018 World T20 semifinal, which England won. India will have a point to prove as England had also beaten them in the 2017 ODI World Cup final at Lord’s.
Australia, having sealed their knockout spot with a win over New Zealand on Monday, face 2014 semi-finalists South Africa, who topped Group B.
Australia have won the tournament four times, England won the inaugural edition in 2009, and India have reached the final four on three occasions.
The two winners will go into the final, to be played on March 8 — International Women’s Day — at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India have been on a roll. After defeating Australia in the opening game, they haven’t looked back, registering comprehensive wins against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka to top Group A.
CARRYING CONFIDENCE
Former Australia pacer Brett Lee feels the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team will enter the semi-finals with a lot of confidence as they have match-winners like opener Shafali Verma and spinner Poonam Yadav and it will require “an excellent team” to stop them from reaching the final.
“We saw from the opener against Australia just how good India can be, and it’s no surprise they’ve continued that form to top Group A,” said Lee in an ICC column.
The 16-year-old Shafali Verma has so far scored 161 runs in the four innings , at a strike rate of 161. She has hit 18 fours and nine sixes and has played a crucial role in India’s progress to the last four.
NO RESERVE DAY
The semi-final in Sydney could however, be hit by weather. Rain is forecast for Thursday but there is no reserve day. For a match to be considered complete, 10 overs —for each side—will have to be bowled. There can be a delay of 30 minutes before the overs start to get lopped off.
If there is no game, India and South Africa will go through as group toppers.
However, there is a reserve day for Sunday’s final.