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Somehow, Colombo has managed to avert a third straight washout. Majority of Friday was spent in a hopeless weather-watch before miraculous, a 20-over-a-side affair was deemed possible as South Africa romped home against Sri Lanka.
The R Premadasa Stadium will be the center of all attention on Saturday as well with the hope that the weather relents again. It is a contest with plenty riding in it for both New Zealand and Pakistan, with both teams needing a win to keep their semifinal hopes realistically alive.
All signs seem to be pointing towards a virtual knockout in the India-New Zealand clash next week but there's still a fair way to go until then. The White Ferns simply need to win this one to record just their second win of the tournament while a loss could leave them clutching at straws.
They would be left wondering what could have been against Sri Lanka, for what was set to be a 30-over chase was also rendered moot by the weather. In saying that, a full 50-over chase may have proved to be trickier, with the Lankans whipping up a solid score of 258 in the first innings. Given that New Zealand haven't aced their trial by spin, the chase could have just as well gone pear-shaped although that is a case of possibilities and probabilities.
For now, their fate remains in their hands. A win across each of their remaining games will secure a smooth entry into the semifinals, whilst ensuring that they peak at the perfect time. With tough endeavors on the horizon against India and England, the White Ferns will need to get into a nice little run starting Saturday. While the weather is an uncontrollable factor, what they can take care of is their own performance on the field.
Their catching against Sri Lanka was something they would do well to erase from their memory, for they dropped far too many of them. The bowling wasn't really up to the mark either even as Bree Illing, brought in as a matchup for Chamari Athapaththu, eventually picked up a couple of wickets. It's hard to see New Zealand keep the in-form Lea Tahuhu out with these crucial games ahead warranting her experience and that swap could be on the cards, while Rosemary Mair will be determined to continue her good showing. Eden Carson has been disappointing as the second spinner in what is an already depleted spin attack in terms of options and New Zealand simply need more out of her.
When the chips are down, one can always expect skipper Sophie Devine to rise to the occasion. And so she did, sending down nine overs and returning three wickets against Sri Lanka. So far, New Zealand's campaign has pivoted largely around her returns and as much as a bit of 'Devine' intervention would do them no harm, the White Ferns cannot expect to go deep into the tournament unless the rest of the pack stands up to be counted.
From a batting perspective, the onus then falls on the opening duo of Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer to turn around their underwhelming campaigns thus far. Amelia Kerr has been tidy with the ball but has struggled for runs, although as Australian skipper Alyssa Healy has shown over the last week, it often takes just one big innings to rekindle your best. New Zealand will hope that is indeed the case, with only Brooke Halliday putting up a couple of performances of note with the bat otherwise.
Pakistan would have felt denied and robbed by the rain the other day, having come within touching distance of scripting the biggest World Cup upset yet. Their seamers, led by skipper Fatima Sana, ran through the England batting lineup to have them reeling at 78/7 before rain made its presence felt again. Chasing a revised DLS target of 113 in 31 overs, they got off to a solid start before the weather eventually denied them a chance at scripting a famous win.
Pakistan have continued to rely on their bowling unit to keep them in the contest. With a lone point from four outings though, a semifinal spot does seem out of bounds even as they are not out of it. Defeat on Saturday will send them on their way out but Pakistan will turn towards their bowling unit comprising Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and Sana to once again keep the opposition in check and ease life for their batters. They have chopped and changed their batting lineup a fair bit with only Sidra Ameen making her mark so far in the tournament. It is a reflection of a batting unit that still has plenty of work to do and they will have their task cut out again on this front against an in-form pace attack.
New Zealand, despite a lack of conviction so far in how they've come out looking on the field, begin as favorites. But they will feel the heat ahead of this one considering that they simply have to leave Colombo with two more points to ease the burden on their shoulders. Collectively, they have greater experience for a stage like this but it is about cohesion and clicking together that will count as far as the White Ferns are concerned.
As always, one eye remains on the clouds above with a sea of gray swarming the Premadasa over the last week or so. With so much intrigue as the round-robin stage is well into its second half, another washout is the last thing that the competition needs. Hopefully, we're done with those for the tournament and for a change, a complete contest lies in front of us!
New Zealand Probable XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson
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