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Australia (AU-W) and New Zealand (NZ-W) will lock horns in the 11th match of the Women’s World Cup 2022 on Sunday, March 13, at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Australia have flourished big time under the leadership of Meg Lanning, especially in the last four years. Apart from their solitary loss to India last year, the Aussies have rolled over their opponents with utmost ease. They have also started their World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins.
Having defeated arch-rivals England by 12 runs on the back of Rachael Haynes’ century, Lanning and Co. beat Pakistan by seven wickets on Tuesday. After electing to field first, the Aussies restricted Pakistan to 190/6 in 50 overs.
Barring skipper Bismah Maroof, who scored 78 runs on International Women’s Day and dedicated her knock to her daughter Fatima, none of the Pakistan batters looked secure in the middle. Anglo-Indian origin spinner Alana King picked up two wickets for the Aussies.
Jess Jonassen didn’t get a wicket, but bowled at an excellent economy rate of 3.33. Australia made light work of their run-chase as they tracked down the target in 34.4 overs. Alyssa Healy laid the platform with a 72-run knock before Omaima Sohail dismissed her.
Haynes, Lanning, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney made handy scores in the 30s and 20s to take Australia over the line. Healy was adjudged the Player of the Match for her knock at the top.
New Zealand, led by Sophie Devine, on the other hand, stuttered a bit in their opening game after losing to the West Indies by three runs. But the White Ferns have stitched together two back-to-back wins to get their campaign back on track.
They defeated Mithali Raj’s India by 62 runs in their previous match. After being put in to bat first, the home team set a stiff target of 261 for the Women in Blue to chase down. Amelia Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite scored half-centuries for New Zealand.
From there on, Kerr and Lea Tahuhu’s three-wicket hauls blew India away. Harmanpreet Kaur scored a half-century, but her knock went in vain.
Will New Zealand Women (NZ-W) beat Australia Women (AU-W)?
Apart from being unbeaten in the World Cup, Australia Women are one win short of 100 ODI victories over New Zealand Women. In World Cups, the Aussies have won 12 out of 15 times. Even at home, the White Ferns have struggled against Australia.
Lanning and Co. are thus the favorites to win the next game.
Prediction: Australia Women to win the match.
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