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Follow UsYou wrote off the West Indies, didn’t you?
But such is the format of the Women's T20 World Cup that one bad day could knock you out of the tournament. England, who started with three wins in the tournament, lost their last game and eventually got dumped out of the competition.
However, South Africa, thanks to its superior net run rate, sealed the other spot. India’s elimination meant that New Zealand grabbed the opportunity and made the fourth semi-final spot their own alongside tournament favourites Australia.
So, what could help these teams win the World Cup and make them lose it?
Australia
World Cup history: Six-time World Cup winners and currently the defending champions
Results thus far: 6 wicket win vs SL, 60 run win vs NZ, 9 wicket win vs PAK, 9 run win vs IND
What can win them the World Cup?
– Experience in coming out on top of pressure situations
– Second-best run rate (7.2) for a batting group in a low-scoring tournament
– Best bowling average (11.3) for any team in the competition
– Megan Schutt’s ability to provide early strikes in the powerplay (3 wickets @11.3)
– Annabel Sutherland’s all-round display (7 wickets & 12 runs @133.3 SR)
What can lose them the World Cup?
– The absence of their skipper, Alyssa Healy, could be a big thorn
– Lack of intent in the powerplay (6.7 RR)
– Struggle against spinners in the powerplay with the bat (6.5 RR)
New Zealand
World Cup history: Perennial bridesmaid, runners-up (2009 & 10)
Results thus far: 58 run win vs IND, 60 run loss vs AUS, 8 wicket win vs SL, 54 run win vs PAK
What can win them the World Cup?
– Suzie Bates’ valuable experience at the World Cups (1,158 runs @31.29 avg)
– Melie Kerr’s bowling form (10 wickets @7.2 avg & 4.9 ER)
– Best bowling unit in the powerplay thus far in the tournament (10 wickets @14.8 avg)
– The variety in their spin-bowling department could be invaluable with dying pitches
– Rosemary Mair could be a big threat to the opponents as well (7 wickets @10.9 avg)
What can lose them the World Cup?
– The weakest run rate in the powerplay with the bat (6.5) amongst the semi-finalists
– Over-reliance on Sophie Devine in the middle-order
– Lowest balls/boundary (12.1), which means they would face trouble against a power-hitting side
– Only chased in one game, so it might come as a worry if they lose the toss
West Indies
World Cup history: Champions in 2016
Results thus far: 10 wicket loss vs SA, 6 wicket win vs SCO, 8 wicket win vs BAN, 6 wicket win vs ENG
What can win them the World Cup?
– Sheer power and six-hitting ability (12 sixes in 4 games)
– Deandra Dottin’s stellar batting form (87 runs @167.3 SR, 6 sixes)
– Qiana Joseph-Hayley Matthews partnership in the powerplay
– Afy Fletcher’s experience with the ball (26 wickets in WC history @15.9 avg)
– Highest run-chase (142) till now in this year’s T20 World Cup
What can lose them the World Cup?
– Powerplay bowling could be a big weakness for the Windies (6 wickets @ 22.5 avg)
– Haven’t set a lot of targets in the competition till now, and lost the only game they set a target
– Over-reliance on spin unit (21 wickets @15.8 vs 2 wickets @ 65)
– Only played one game in Sharjah, the venue for their semi-final against New Zealand
– Absence of the experienced Stefanie Taylor
South Africa
World Cup history: Runners-up in 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup
Results thus far: 10 wicket win vs WI, 7 wicket loss vs ENG, 80 run win vs SCO, 7 wicket win vs BAN
What can win them the World Cup?
– Best average for any opening pair in this competition (50.5)
– Laura Wolvaardt’s much-improved intent in the powerplay (95 runs @141.8 SR)
– Marizanne Kapp’s all-round show (82 runs & 4 wickets @ 3.8 ER)
– The street smarts of Nonkululeko Mlaba (9 wickets @ 8.2 avg & 4.6 ER)
– Lowest wickets lost in the competition with the bat (14 wickets)
– Second best run rate for a middle-order (7.9) in the competition
What can lose them the World Cup?
– Second joint-lowest wickets (5) in the death-over phase during the competition
– Lowest run rate against spin (6.3) and BPB (10.1), which could be a problem on dying pitches
– Lack of early wickets from Ayabonga Khaka could haunt South Africa (1 wicket @ 65 avg)
– Australia! Confused? South Africa haven’t yet beaten Australia in a World Cup fixture, with seven losses
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