Time: March 10, 6:30 AM IST
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
Pitch Report
Runs came thick and fast in the only game played at Seddon Park in this World Cup. England fell 12 runs short while chasing Australia’s mammoth target of 311. Although there wasn’t much on offer for the pacers, the spinners managed to trouble the batters in the second innings. 5 of England’s 8 wickets fell to spin.
Teams
Probable XI for New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Amy Satterthwaite, Maddy Green, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe
Probable XI for India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Amelia Kerr scored the most fantasy points in the recently concluded ODI series between these teams, displaying a superlative performance in all the departments. She scored 353 runs at 117.6 (the most), bagged 7 wickets at 34.5 (the joint-most), and took as many as 9 catches (the most). She continued her brilliance in the World Cup, blasting 92* off 75 in the warm-up against Australia and 47* off 37 against Bangladesh.
Although India embarrassingly lost the series, Mithali Raj did not disappoint the fantasy players. She was so consistent that her lowest score read 23, and it took a spectacular delivery to induce an edge. Overall, she scored 235 runs at 78.3.
India won only one game on the tour and it was the only game that Smriti Mandhana was a part of. It was her instrumental innings of 71 off 84 that helped India chase 252 with 4 overs to go. She carried forward her confidence, scoring 52 off 75 against Pakistan last Sunday. Against New Zealand, she averages over 40.
Sophie Devine top-scored for New Zealand with her sixth century against West Indies but failed against Bangladesh. Suzie Bates scored the bulk of the runs against Bangladesh (during which she completed 1,000 runs in the World Cup) but had gone for a mere 3 runs against West Indies. The duo seldom fails to lay a foundation. While Bates hasn’t bowled in the format since the pandemic started, Devine has been striking consistently with her medium pace.
Smart Picks
Pakistan found Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s left-arm orthodox difficult to negotiate. She picked up her fifth four-wicket haul. She also maintains an outstanding record against New Zealand, taking 19 wickets in 10 games.
Amy Satterthwaite has so far taken 3 wickets in 5 overs, scored 31 runs, and inflicted a run-out in the ongoing edition. She averages 36 against India, with the highest score of 71.
Deepti Sharma is a utility cricketer in fantasy sports. She scored 40 off 57 at No. 3 and took the all-important wicket of Bismah Maroof.
Pooja Vastrakar was adjudged the Player of the Match against Pakistan for her game-changing innings of 67 off 59 at No. 8. Her innings was laced with boundaries and excellent running between the wickets.
Jess Kerr’s talent isn’t just limited to her bowling. She can play big shots if needed. Her 25 off 21 in the opening game against West Indies showcased her potential with the bat.
Sneh Rana was the captain of the Ultimate Team against Pakistan. She scored 53 off 48 and took 2 for 27.
Match Preview
India lost the one-off T20I and the ODIs 4-1 in New Zealand before the tournament. Overall, they have won 20 of 53 ODIs and only 2 of 12 matches in the World Cup against New Zealand. In the 2017 edition, however, India thrashed New Zealand by 186 runs, thanks to Mithali’s 109.