The Women’s T20 World Cup continues its hectic pace tonight, as Australia face Bangladesh in another must-win game, this time at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Join The Roar at 7:00pm (AEDT) for live scores and a blog of the match.
Although Australia’s first-up loss to India wasn’t the ideal start for the hosts, it dismissed any notion that the round-robin games were just a convoluted way of working out who would play Australia in the final.
It’s certainly game on now and the Aussies will need to win their next five matches straight to lift the trophy on March 8 in Melbourne.
It definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing of late for Australia. While the bowling attack has been reasonable, the batting order has struggled for consistency. Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner’s dismissals in the game against Sri Lanka were poor shot selections under the circumstances and the favouritism tag is maybe becoming a burden.
Fortunately for Australia, Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes played very measured knocks to guide their side to a win.
They won’t have it all their own way against Bangladesh, who were competitive against India and upset England in a practice game.
Murshida Khatun and Nigar Sultana Joty are in good touch with the bat while Panna Ghosh was a real handful with the ball, taking the prized wicket of the Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur.
Bangladesh will see this game as one in which they have nothing to lose but everything to play for.
Prediction
The Australian team has claimed it has turned the corner following their win over Sri Lanka and I guess we are about to find out.
Bangladesh will fancy its spinners getting into the Australian batting order but I sense Australia’s depth, perhaps unparalleled in women’s cricket, will see them home.
Australia by five wickets or 25 runs.
When: 7:00pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Cricket, GEM
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, cricket.com.au
Betting: Australia $1.04, Bangladesh $11.00
Australia squad
Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
Bangladesh squad
Salma Khatun (c), Rumana Ahmed (vc), Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Ayesha Rahman, Nigar Sultana, Sanjida Islam, Khadija-Tul-Kubra, Panna Ghosh, Fargana Haque, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Enjoy your Friday and the weekend
David Holden
Roar Guru
Australia were always expected to beat Bangladesh but that was clinical from the Southern Stars. They will take plenty from this win and will go into the remainder of the tournament with confidence. Monday is the key game with the winner of Australia vs New Zealand progressing to the semi finals
David Holden
Roar Guru
Australia have beaten Bangladesh by 86 runs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fahima works down to long off.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Nahida comes in at non-striker
David Holden
Roar Guru
WICKET. Khadiza is new at the crease. She takes a quick single but is caught short. Bangladesh 9/102
David Holden
Roar Guru
WICKET. Bit of confusion there from Salma and Healy completes the easy run out. Bangladesh 8/102
David Holden
Roar Guru
Salma comes to the crease
David Holden
Roar Guru
WICKET. Alam goes for the sweep shot but misses and Jonassen hits. Bangladesh are 7/102 with 3 balls remaining
David Holden
Roar Guru
Alam gets off the mark working that to long off
David Holden
Roar Guru
Jonassen will bowl the last over with Alam at the crease
David Holden
Roar Guru
WICKET. Top edge from Fargana and Healy makes no mistake. Fargana out for 36 and Bangladesh are 6/100 with 1 over remaining
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fahima lifts but it falls safe short of third man and Bangladesh reach 100
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fargana hits well down to mid on for 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fahima hits to mid on and runs hard for a single
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fahima has pulled that and its dropped just short of Sutherland. They will check the catch and it's fallen just short
David Holden
Roar Guru
Schutt will bowl her last over
David Holden
Roar Guru
12 balls remaining here and Bangladesh are 5/97
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fahima is off the mark with a pull for 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fargana guides to long on for 1