PREVIEW
Follow UsOne of the oldest rivalries in the history of cricket, India and Pakistan set foot at the Bay Oval to enthral millions of fans with a Sunday blockbuster. While the cricket frenzy fans expected the game to be nerve-wracking and go all the way down to the wire, the match turned out to be a fairly one-sided affair, with India dominating proceedings for the majority of the game to register a comprehensive win.
In a post-match interview after their win, Indian captain Mithali Raj said, "I am happy we won the first game, but there are a lot of things to work on. When you lose wickets in the middle order, it does put a lot of pressure."
It seldom happens in the sport that after registering a thumping win, the skipper of the side highlights the need to work on things before the next game.
However, such has been the aura of competitive sport that Mithali and the team management would need to go back to the drawing boards and work on a period of play that could have resulted in adverse effects.
Despite having a steady start at the top, the Indian team were reeling at 114 for the loss of six wickets after the middle-order crumbled under pressure and lost five wickets for 18 runs.
While Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana produced a match-defining partnership to help them overcome the jitters, the team would need their big guns to fire against the home side in a crucial encounter.
On the other hand, the White Ferns were handed a shock defeat by the Windies in their opening encounter. Despite a sublime century from Sophie Devine in pursuit of 260, the home team went agonisingly down by three runs. While they recorded a commanding nine-wicket win against Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed match, New Zealand would not want any further hiccups in their bid for their second world title.
There is any doubt that New Zealand have been the dominant side in the last month after their 4-1 drubbing against India last month. However, the White Ferns will need their inexperienced middle-order to fire when they set foot at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on March 10, Thursday against the Women in Blue.
Time running out for India to solve the middle-order muddle
India embarked on their journey to the southern hemisphere in the last week of January with an aim to rectify their middle-order muddle in the series against New Zealand that was touted to be the curtain-raiser ahead of the World Cup.
However, after six games in the land of the Kiwis, their middle-order is still struggling to find their mojo, mainly due to the inconsistent performance of vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
In the fifty-over format since 2018, the right-handed batter has scored 644 runs in 28 innings at an average of 26.83, batting at number four or five, which is the worst among batters of the top five nations with a minimum of 20 innings.
With the onus of the side relying heavily on Mithali and Harmanpreet to shoulder the responsibility of the inexperienced batting unit, the Women in Blue will need their premier batter to step up and score consistently in this mega event.
While she showcased glimpses of her class in the last league match of the series against New Zealand and the first warm-up game against South Africa, the manner of her dismissal against Pakistan is a glaring concern for the team.
The 32-year old will also aim to improve on her record in this part of the world after amassing only 125 runs in six innings at an average of 20.83, the worst for her in any county with a minimum of five innings.
Amelia Kerr holds the key for the White Ferns
One of the standout performers in the recently-concluded series across the two sides was Amelia Kerr. The 21-year old has been one of the most improved cricketers at the international level, and her exploits since the last edition of the World Cup showcase her consistent rise in the world arena.
With Amy Satterthwaite taking maternity leave, Kerr was the key at number three. In the 35 matches played thus far, she has scored 1084 runs and scalped 48 wickets, which is the most among players with a minimum of 1000 runs and 20 wickets since the 2017 World Cup.
Over dependency on Jhulan Goswami
While all the attention has been on the performance of the Indian middle-order, the lack of inroads created by the Indian pacers in the past seasons has also been an area of concern.
While Jhulan Goswami has been the mainstay of the bowling unit for two decades, the veteran pacer has not found an able partner to support her with the new ball.
In the 17 innings since 2021, the Indian fast bowlers have managed to scalp 14 wickets in the first ten overs at a ball per wicket ratio of 58.7, which is the worst among the top five nations. Among those 14 wickets, the 39-year old has picked up eight wickets.
Can the two sides overcome their butterfingers?
Over the years, New Zealand has come to be known as a batting paradise, and the visiting side have often found it challenging to acclimatise to the dimensions of the ground and the wind conditions.
While the Indian team struggled with the strong breeze that resulted in lapses on the field, it was surprising to witness the home team dropping numerous catches in the five-match series, which is unlike their standard.
The White Ferns dropped 14 catches and had a catching efficiency of 68.90 compared to eight catches spilt by the Women in Blue and an efficiency of 73.30.
With most games turning out to be a high-scoring affairs, the bowlers will need plenty of support from the fielders in their bid to get over the line and gain vital two points.
Probable XI:
India: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (Captain), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
