Time: March 15, 3:30 AM IST
Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington
Pitch Report
There was a spectacular display of swing bowling by Australia earlier this week at Wellington. They bundled out New Zealand, the team that is accustomed to these conditions, for 128. Playing to the merit of the ball is an ideal strategy on this wicket.
Teams
Probable XI for Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, Amanda Wellington, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Probable XI for West Indies: Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Kycia Knight, Stafanie Taylor (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Hayley Matthews has not disappointed the fantasy players yet in this World Cup. She has smashed 207 runs at 69, taken five wickets at 29, and pouched three catches. Against Australia, the numbers remain outstanding: 287 runs and 3 wickets in 5 games.
Ellyse Perry’s numbers against West Indies are incredible. She has scored 507 runs at a whopping average of 169 and taken 20 wickets in 10 games. She won the Player of the Match award against New Zealand for her all-rounder performance.
Deandra Dottin has been, if anything, an incredible player this season. She won the game with the ball ( 2 for 2) against New Zealand and then gave a brisk start (62 off 46) to the tough chase against India. To make her case stronger, she has had fun against Australia scoring 2 fifties and taking 5 wickets.
For Australia, Rachael Haynes has scored the bulk of the runs. She has laid strong foundations in all three matches, scoring 130, 34, and 30.
Smart Picks
Stafanie Taylor may not have put up a stellar performance yet, but her numbers against Australia make her a smart pick in fantasy cricket. Her 12 wickets are the most for West Indies against Australia and her batting average reads 34 in 10 games.
Meg Lanning has been in dangerous form since the warm-ups, managing two 80-plus scores. To add fuel to the fire, she has scored three fifties and two hundreds against West Indies.
Anisa Mohammed has taken the most wickets for West Indies in this World Cup. She has taken a two-wicket haul in all three games, striking in the middle-overs with her off-breaks.
Alana King has taken five wickets in two innings. She is an out-and-out strike bowler.
Megan Schutt averages 15.2 against West Indies, with the best figures of 4 for 18. She has not gone wicketless in the World Cup yet.
Shemaine Campbell’s 66 against New Zealand won her the Player of the Match award. She is good at both holding the innings together in the middle-overs and counterattacking at the end of the innings.
Match Preview
Australia have won all the matches, while West Indies have gotten the better of New Zealand and England in the World Cup.
Australia, in addition, rule the head-to-head numbers, winning 12 of 13 ODIs against West Indies. The only loss, however, came in the 2013 World Cup. Deandra Dottin’s 60 off 67 pushed Australia out of the contest.