Time: July 9, 11 PM IST
Venue: County Ground, Northampton
Pitch report
This will be the first-ever women’s T20I at the County Ground in Northampton, but for the pitch analysis, we have the data from the ongoing English T20 League. The average first and second innings scores read 179 and 151 respectively at the venue. Although it has been a batting paradise and that there have been 4 scores in excess of 180 runs, the chasing team has won only once in 5 games.
Teams
On the New Zealand tour earlier this year, Amy Jones was pushed down the lineup, letting Danni Wyatt open the innings with Tammy Beaumont. Given the team composition, we are likely to witness a similar batting position, although Sophia Dunkley will be sent to bat according to the match scenarios.
Probable XI for England: Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Fran Wilson, Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone
Richa Ghosh is as dashing as Shafali Sharma, but India also need the experience of Jemimah Rodrigues at No. 3. It all depends on what game plan India are comfortable with.
Probable XI for India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh/Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia/Indra Roy (wk), Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Poonam Yadav
Fantasy tips
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Players to watch out for
Shafali Verma has had a good time on the England tour so far, scoring twin-fifties in the only Test and 78 runs in the ODIs. She will now play in the format in which she ranks No. 1. In a mere 22 T20Is, she has blasted 617 runs with an incredible strike rate of 148.
Natalie Sciver’s scores this multi-series against India read 42, 74*, 19, and 49 and has gone wicketless only once in 5 innings. She ranks No. 2 in ICC T20I Rankings for all-rounders.
Smriti Mandhana has excellent numbers against England in the format. In 10 games, she has collected 317 runs at an average of 35 including 3 half-centuries. For England, Danni Wyatt has scored the bulk of the runs against India, smashing 333 runs in 10 games including a century.
Sophie Ecclestone likes feeding on the Indian batters. She took as many as 8 wickets at 13.5 in the ODI series. She had taken as many wickets in the only Test.
India are likely to play three spin-bowling all-rounders in Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav. Rana especially has been in terrific form. She helped India save the Test and then scored 24 in a tough chase in the final ODI.
Prediction
India have a horrible record against England in the format, losing 15 of 19 matches. Their last T20I victory in England came in 2006. However, India have a better team composition in T20Is. Their only problem on the tour has been playing as a cohesive unit. They have been rescued by a player or two in critical situations – something they cannot afford in this format. Their bowling especially has let them down. It all depends on how they utilise the variety they boast of.
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