Time: March 19, 6:30 AM IST
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Pitch Report
Wickets have fallen at regular intervals despite the pitches being friendlier for the batters in the ongoing World Cup. Although Eden Park has a reputation for producing high-scoring games, as the ground dimensions are smaller, an even battle between the bat and ball is likely to unfold.
Teams
Probable XI for India: Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Mithali Raj (c), Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Probable XI for Australia: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Ellyse Perry likes hunting down the Indian batters. She has taken 32 wickets at 23, including the best bowling figures of 5 for 19. With the bat, her numbers aren’t any less impressive: 548 runs at 40. In the ongoing edition, she is the joint-highest wicket-taker for the team and has the highest score of 68.
Harmanpreet Kaur reduced Australia to a pulp with her 171* in the semi-final of the 2017 World Cup. It’s no news that she rises to the occasion when India need her, and after losing to England, she will have to put her best foot forward. Perhaps an encore of the hundred against West Indies would suffice.
Rachael Haynes has been so consistent that her lowest score reads 30, meaning she has not disappointed the fantasy players yet. With 277 runs at 92, she is the highest run-scorer of the edition.
India rely heavily on the success of Smriti Mandhana. In India’s both wins, she scored the bulk of the runs: 52 against Pakistan and 123 against West Indies. Against Australia, she has a hundred and four fifties.
Smart Picks
After her incredible performance in the ODIs against New Zealand last month, Mithali Raj’s performance has gone downhill. She has three single-digit scores in four games. However, she is the only player to score over 1,000 runs between these teams in ODIs.
Alyssa Healy has the highest score of 133 against India. She was picked by over 90% of fantasy players in three of four matches.
Jhulan Goswami became the first woman’s cricketer to take 250 wickets in ODIs earlier this week. Against Australia, her best bowling figures read 3 for 6.
After her 86 against Pakistan, Meg Lanning has scored 5 and 0. She, nonetheless, has a reasonable record against India: 3 fifties and a hundred in 15 games.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad has taken the bulk of the wickets for India in this edition. Her 8 wickets have come at an average of 17.
Pooja Vastrakar (143.5 points) and Sneh Rana (126.5 points) continue to be favourites in fantasy cricket for their all-round skills.
Match Preview
India have a poor record against Australia, overall losing 10 of 39 ODIs and 3 of 9 in the World Cup. They have beaten an inexperienced Pakistan and a confident West Indies, while Australia are yet to lose a game.