The Girls’s World Cup caravan rolls into the coastal metropolis of Visakhapatnam — the fourth venue of the event and one that provides extra than simply postcard views. It is the place India held a two-week preparatory camp earlier than the event started, giving the house facet an early learn on native situations. The floor right here is thought to favor huge totals, one thing India will hope to use — first towards a harmful South African facet, after which once more versus defending champions Australia on Sunday.
This would be the first time South Africa performs a ladies’s ODI in Vizag, a metropolis that final hosted a ladies’s worldwide again in 2014. They arrive with blended kind — rebounding from an embarrassing 69-all out and 10-wicket thrashing by England, to a dominant six-wicket win over New Zealand in Indore. With their batting order regaining confidence and a bowling assault brimming with selection, the Proteas are starting to appear like a group that may adapt — even in Vizag’s humid, moisture-laden situations.
India, in the meantime, stay unbeaten up to now, sitting only one level behind table-toppers Australia in third place. However as Jemimah Rodrigues candidly admitted, their first two wins had been removed from a “excellent sport.” Now begins the essential stretch that would make or break their marketing campaign: a 10-day gauntlet of high-stakes clashes towards South Africa, Australia, and England — the very trio that handed them defeats within the 2022 World Cup, resulting in a league-stage exit.
South Africa had been those who knocked India out of semi-final rivalry final time round, however India have since hit again onerous — successful all 5 ODIs between the perimeters, together with three at dwelling final yr and two on this yr’s Sri Lanka tri-series. Nevertheless, slipping into complexity now may come at a steep value. A slip-up on Thursday will not simply dent India’s momentum; it might go away them cornered forward of their conflict with Australia on October 12.
Nonetheless, the Indian camp will take coronary heart from successful with no robust present from its star batters — an indication, maybe, of depth and the presence of a number of match-winners. However they’re going to want all of them firing quickly.
As for South Africa, their confidence is again. Tazmin Brits has struck kind with a century, Sune Luus is again amongst runs, and skipper Laura Wolvaardt will wish to make her mark. Add to that the expertise of Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, and a different assault that includes Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, and the dynamic Chloe Tryon — and you have got a severe problem brewing.
Oh, after which there’s the climate. With showers within the combine and a lined pitch doubtless holding some moisture, bowlers of all sorts could have their say. If Colombo’s situations had been any indication, we could possibly be in for a gripping battle between bat and ball — offered the rain performs the silent spectator.
INDW vs SAW: VIZAG WEATHER REPORT
Visakhapatnam’s coastal attraction is getting a humid twist simply in time for its Girls’s World Cup debut. After a light-weight teaser of rain two days in the past and a extra theatrical downpour the day earlier than the match, the town now finds itself nervously side-eyeing the skies, with extra showers flirting with Wednesday. afternoon.
Up to now, the rain’s been a background further slightly than a showstopper, however the forecast hints it could possibly be prepared for an even bigger position. Toss in a toasty 32C and humidity that adheres more durable than a last-over thriller, and you have got situations that promise to check extra than simply ability — stamina, too. It is a acquainted script from Indore, Guwahati, and, after all, the ever-moody Colombo. Whereas Vizag is not fairly threatening the drama ranges of that Australia vs Sri Lanka near-washout, the climate is certainly auditioning for a plot twist on this much-awaited opening act.
INDW vs SAW: VIZAG PITCH REPORT
After sweating it out for over an hour in Vizag’s muggy pre-match haze, Jemimah Rodrigues figured that something round 270 may effectively be a match-winning complete on the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium — a venue that flatters batters early however slowly shifts the highlight to spinners as the sport wears on. With the common first-innings rating hovering round 230, captains normally lean in the direction of chasing, hoping to benefit from some early motion earlier than the pitch begins to grip. But when India’s prime order lights it up the best way Rodrigues hopes, we would simply be in for a full-blown Vizag run-fest.
INDW vs SAW: HEAD-TO-HEAD IN ODIS
When India tackle South Africa of their Girls’s World Cup conflict, they’re going to be bringing extra than simply good kind — they’re going to be carrying a hefty psychological edge. The pinnacle-to-head stats inform the story: 20 wins for India in 32 ODIs, with the Proteas trailing at 12. And the latest historical past? It has been all blue. India have received the final 5 conferences — casually, prefer it’s simply a part of their warm-up routine — with South Africa’s final victory courting again to March 2022. So sure, whereas the Proteas will likely be buoyed by their crushing win over New Zealand, they’re going to need to shake off some severe historical past in the event that they wish to flip the script towards the hosts.
INDW vs SAW: PREDICTED PLAYING XI
India will likely be buzzing with Amanjot Kaur again in motion, having put in some severe internet time on Tuesday night. In the meantime, South Africa look set to stay with their successful lineup from the New Zealand sport in Indore—although Vizag’s pitch would possibly throw them a cheeky curveball.
India predicted XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud.
South Africa predicted XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luss, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeuko. Mlaba
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