WT20 WC: Australia vs New Zealand Live Score

7 months ago 131

Done with the pre-match formalities! The New Zealand Women's players are in a huddle just outside the boundary ropes where Sophie Devine is giving a last-minute pep talk. Now they spread out to take their respective field positions. Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney are the two openers for Australia Women.

We can see the two umpires make their way out to the middle followed by the players from both teams. Not too far away from the first ball being bowled, but before that, both sides line up for their respective national anthems. It will be New Zealand's first followed by the national anthem of Australia.

PITCH REPORT - Mel Jones and Pommie Mbangwa provide their pitch report ahead of the match. Mel notes that it’s cooler tonight with a high of 36 degrees and mentions that the pitch is the same as the previous night. She highlights the dimensions, with a 4-meter difference between the off and on sides and a straight hit of 73 meters. Mbangwa adds insight into the pitch stats, explaining that wickets fall more frequently in Sharjah compared to Dubai and that the bounce is lower here, favoring spinners. He also comments on the even grass covering, suggesting the surface looks good and is likely to remain consistent throughout the game.

We would have batted first, the surface tends to get slower, but we'll need to bowl well and restrict them to a low score. That match against India was massive, but it's just one game out of four. Everyone starts from scratch in World Cups, we would love to go one-up and take our chances. One change, Fran Jonas comes in place of Jess Kerr.

Sophie Devine, New Zealand skipper

We will bat first. I think the tournament has shown that it's difficult to chase, get a score and hope for the bowlers to deliver. A bit more grass on this wicket, hopefully, we can take advantage. Just one change - Grace Harris comes in for Darcie Brown, a like-for-like replacement

Alyssa Healy, Australian skipper

AUS vs NZ Live Score: New Zealand Women (Playing XI)

Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson

Australia vs New Zealand Live Score: Australia Women (Playing XI)

Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Georgia Wareham, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Grace Harris, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt

Australia Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Women's T20 World Cup encounter between Australia and New Zealand!

Sophie Devine, the captain of New Zealand Women says that they would have batted first as well. Adds that winning always helps and it was crucial to start the campaign on a positive note. Adds that they were doing the right things for a long time but the results did not go their way, so it was good to put up a performance like that on the big stage. Mentions that at the World Cup, everyone starts from scratch. Informs that Fran Jonas comes in for Jess Kerr as they think that spin would play a bigger role in this game.

Alyssa Healy, the skipper of Australia Women, announces that they will bat first, noting that the tournament has shown chasing to be challenging. She expresses confidence in putting a solid total on the board to defend later. Healy points out the slightly different conditions in Sharjah, with more grass on the pitch, offering some potential advantage. Australia makes one change, with Grace Harris replacing Darcie Brown - one impact player for another. When asked about Harris bowling, Healy adds that she might bowl, but the team already has ample options in the bowling department.

New Zealand Women (Playing XI) - Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Melie Kerr, Sophie Devine (C), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (WK), Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas (In place of Jess Kerr).

Australia Women (Playing XI) - Alyssa Healy (C/WK), Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris (In place of Darcie Brown), Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt.

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of Alyssa Healy and Australia Women have elected to BAT first.