Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
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CAPE TOWN, AFP: Australia and England are hot favourites to reach Sunday’s final of the Women’s T20 World Cup, but India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes there is a factor which can alter the odds.
“Pressure,” she said, looking ahead to Thursday’s semi-final against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town.
“In World Cup games both teams are under pressure.” England play South Africa in the second semi-final on Friday Australia and England were unbeaten in the group stages and prevailed with attacking cricket when their superiority was challenged.
“They attack a lot,” said 19-year-old India wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.
“So, whatever happens to them, even if the batter is out, they don’t stop attacking. We also have good batting depth, so will be playing an attacking game.” The odds, however, are against India.
Defending champions Australia have won nine of the pair’s last 10 meetings with the other game ending in a tie.
When they met in the 2020 final in Melbourne, Australia cantered to an 85-run win after bowling out India for just 99.
However, skipper Meg Lanning said Wednesday that there will be no complacency in her team.
“I think that India have shown that they’re not relying on one or two players. They’ve got some great depth as well,” she said.
“We both start at the same level tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what’s happened previously in this tournament or previous games. It’s about what happens on the park tomorrow. And yeah, we feel like if we play our best cricket that will give us a really good chance to win.” Australia are expected to triumph and are largely impervious to the pressures that Kaur spoke about as winners of five out of seven T20 World Cups and seven 50-over World Cups.
