Cricket

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is reaching its climax, and India's semi-final hopes hinge on the outcomes of the remaining Group A matches. With Australia and India tied on four points, the fate of both teams is intertwined.Australia's match against Pakistan on Friday will significantly impact India's chances. If Australia wins, they will move to six points and virtually secure a semi-final berth. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be eliminated from contention, as a win against New Zealand in their final group match would only take them to four points.In this scenario, India would need to compete with New Zealand for the remaining semi-final spot. New Zealand has two matches remaining, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If they win both, they would also reach six points. India must win their final match against Australia to reach six points and force a three-way tie. The semi-finalists would then be determined by net run rate (NRR).However, if Pakistan upsets Australia, the group will become even more competitive, with Pakistan, Australia, and India all tied at four points. If New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka on Saturday, all four teams would be tied on four points, making it a four-way race.In this scenario, India's match against Australia becomes a must-win, as the winners of the final group matches - India vs Australia on Sunday and Pakistan vs New Zealand on Monday - would advance to the semi-finals.Regardless of the outcome of the other matches, India must beat Australia in their final group match to remain in contention for a semi-final spot. Defeat against the defending champions would leave India's fate entirely dependent on other results, a scenario they would surely like to avoid.

The Indian women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will face Sri Lanka in a crucial match of the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The match holds significance for both teams, as Sri Lanka seeks to keep their knockout stage hopes alive, while India aims to maintain their winning momentum.Sri Lanka, who defeated India in the final of the Asia Cup in July, will be eager to replicate that performance. However, they face an uphill battle after losing their opening matches to Pakistan and Australia. To qualify for the semi-finals, they must win their remaining two matches, including the one against India.India, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their recent victory over Pakistan. They will be keen to continue their winning streak ahead of their final group match against reigning champions Australia. However, they cannot afford any slip-ups after their defeat to New Zealand.Sri Lanka's top-order batters, including skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, will need to find form in this match. India's spinners, Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil, are likely to play a significant role, so Sri Lanka will need to be wary of their threat.India's right-arm seamer Arundhati Reddy has emphasized the importance of net run rate in their group. "We understand net run rate is important but also winning the game is all the more important for us," she said.Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her hope that her team will perform well against India. "We have to bounce back in next two games I hope my girls will perform in next two games. Hopefully the condition is different in Dubai. So we are playing next game in Dubai against India. So, I hope we can play really good cricket in Dubai," she said.

Australia and New Zealand Clash in Sharjah for Trans-Tasman RivalrySharjah, United Arab Emirates - The highly anticipated clash between Australia and New Zealand in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 is set to take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 7th, at 6 pm local time.Both teams have made impressive starts to their campaigns, with Australia defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets and New Zealand stunning India by 58 runs. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the tournament favorites.Australia, the defending champions, will be led by captain Alyssa Healy, while New Zealand will be captained by Sophie Devine. Both teams boast a wealth of experience and talent, with players like Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, and Amelia Kerr expected to play key roles.The toss may not be as crucial in Sharjah as in other venues, as the evening game is expected to have less dew. However, the pitches have been low and slow, offering little assistance to batters.One player to watch in this match is Amelia Kerr, New Zealand's top all-rounder. Despite her impressive record against other opponents, she has struggled against Australia in T20Is. She will be eager to make an impact in this match, both with the bat and the ball.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams having a chance to secure a crucial victory. The winner will take a significant step towards qualifying for the semi-finals.

Australia, the reigning champions of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, are poised to make history as they seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in South Africa. Led by the dynamic Alyssa Healy, the team has maintained its dominance in bilateral cricket, despite the absence of long-time skipper Meg Lanning, who retired last year.Healy has seamlessly taken over the reins, guiding Australia to impressive victories and solidifying their status as favorites to lift the trophy once again. The team's form has been impeccable, with a string of dominant performances that have showcased their depth and versatility.Australia's quest for a fourth consecutive title is a testament to their unwavering consistency and the exceptional talent within their squad. They boast a formidable batting lineup, led by Healy, Beth Mooney, and Tahlia McGrath, who have consistently delivered match-winning performances.The bowling attack is equally impressive, with the likes of Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, and Ashleigh Gardner providing a potent mix of pace, spin, and accuracy. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and outplay their opponents has been a key factor in their success.However, Australia will face stiff competition from other top teams, including England, India, and New Zealand. England, the 2017 champions, will be eager to reclaim the title, while India and New Zealand have emerged as formidable challengers in recent years.Despite the challenges, Australia remains the team to beat. Their experience, talent, and unwavering determination make them the favorites to extend their reign as world champions. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Healy and her team as they aim to etch their names in the history books once again.

South Africa's women's cricket team made a resounding start to their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign, crushing West Indies by 10 wickets in Dubai on Friday.West Indies, sent in to bat first, struggled to find momentum against South Africa's disciplined bowling attack. Stafanie Taylor's unbeaten 44 off 41 balls provided some resistance, but the Windies were restricted to a modest total of 118 for six.Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was the star of the show for South Africa, claiming career-best figures of 4/29. Marizanne Kapp also impressed with 2/14.In reply, South Africa's openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, made light work of the chase. Wolvaardt scored 59 off 55 balls, while Brits contributed 57 off 52 balls. The pair put on an unbroken 119-run partnership to seal the victory with 13 balls to spare.South Africa's bowlers set the tone for the match, maintaining a tight line and length to restrict West Indies' scoring. Hayley Matthews was the first to fall, caught behind off Kapp's bowling. Qiana Joseph was then bowled by Mlaba, and Kapp struck again to dismiss Deandra Dottin.West Indies' middle order failed to provide any substantial contributions, leaving Taylor stranded on 44. The Windies' total of 118 proved to be far too low against a clinical South African batting performance.Wolvaardt and Brits played with confidence and composure, rotating the strike and finding the boundary regularly. They never looked troubled by the West Indies bowling attack, and their partnership ensured a comfortable victory for South Africa.

India's World Cup-winning spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his concerns about the challenges that the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women's cricket team will face in the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The tournament, which begins on Thursday in the UAE, will see India placed in Group A alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand.Harbhajan believes that Australia will pose the biggest threat to India's title hopes. "Australia is a good team, even though these matches are being played in Dubai, on subcontinent pitches that might not suit them as much as their home conditions," he said. "But Australia, no matter where they play, are hard to beat."India's recent record against Australia in T20Is is not encouraging, with the Aussies winning 23 of the 32 matches played between the two teams. However, Harbhajan also warned India of the potential threat posed by Sri Lanka, who recently defeated India in the Asia Cup final."Sri Lanka, too, after their recent series win against India, will be confident when they play against India," Harbhajan said. "So, that will also be a good contest."Despite the challenges, Harbhajan believes that India has the potential to win their maiden ICC title. "Team India will be the team to beat in this tournament," he said. "They have both experience and youth. Harman is in good form, Smriti is in good form, and Deepti is an unbelievable spinner.""They are a very capable team and have been playing very good cricket," Harbhajan added. "The unit looks solid. If India plays good cricket overall, I believe they will win this tournament."Harbhajan also advised the Indian team to take it one match at a time and not succumb to the pressure of the big occasion. "You have to try to give your best and not take pressure," he said. "At this stage, the only thing that matters is to know yourself and play as a unit. Results will follow."

Ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, India Women's opener Shafali Verma has expressed her admiration for Australia's Alyssa Healy, praising her batting performance during the powerplay. India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand on October 4 at Dubai International Stadium. Prior to the tournament, India will play warm-up matches against the West Indies and South Africa."I would say Alyssa Healy, because whenever she is in good form, she makes the most of the powerplay and continues to build her innings afterward. She always looks to play the full 20 overs, so I would choose her," Shafali said in an interview with Star Sports.India reached their first-ever T20 World Cup final in 2020 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a night filled with hope for clinching the elusive title. However, Harmanpreet's side was bowled out for 99 while chasing 185 against Australia.In the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in 2022, India once again came close to making history, reaching the semi-finals. However, Australia once more proved to be an obstacle in the final four.In the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, India has had mixed results. They lost the T20I series against Australia and England earlier this year, but Harmanpreet's side rebounded with two consecutive series wins against Bangladesh.In July, India's T20I series against South Africa ended in a draw. In the Asia Cup 2024, India lost the final to Sri Lanka, who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.India's squad for the T20 World Cup includes:* Harmanpreet Kaur (c)* Smriti Mandhana (vc)* Shafali Verma* Deepti Sharma* Jemimah Rodrigues* Richa Ghosh (wk)* Yastika Bhatia (wk)* Pooja Vastrakar* Arundhati Reddy* Renuka Singh* Dayalan Hemalatha* Asha Sobhana* Radha Yadav* Shreyanka Patil* Sajana SajeevanTravelling reserves:* Uma Chetry (wk)* Tanuja Kanwer* Saima ThakorNon-travelling reserves:* Raghvi Bist* Priya Mishra