BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – It will be a battle of attrition when a confident Australia take on an equally impressive New Zealand in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 final at the Kensington Oval today.
Both teams have maintained an unbeaten run en route to their summit stage and they would now put up no-holds-barred efforts to overcome the final barrier.
Australia have beaten India by seven wickets in the first semi-final while New Zealand comprehensively defeated the West Indies by 56 runs in the other match of the final-four stage.
Sarah McGlashan has been the most impressive batter for New Zealand, scoring a punishing 55-ball 84 against the West Indies in semi-finals, and she can change all the calculations again in the final with her attacking batting.
Opener Suzie Bates has also been among the runs for New Zealand and has notched up a half-century in their first round match. Captain Aimee Watkins is another batter who is capable of leading the batting department from the front and making her presence count.
New Zealand have also found a good bowling option in Shakera Selman, who scalped two crucial wickets against West Indies and if they have to win tomorrow then the other members of the bowling departments have to back her up. On the other hand, it was Australian skipper Alex Blackwell whose 49-ball 61 laid the foundation of their six-wicket win over the Indian eves.
Blackwell will be eager to finish the task for her team, while there will be in-form Leah Poulton and opener Shelley Nitschke to take up the cudgel for the country.
Australian bowlers had fired in unison in the previous encounter against India and they have to continue with their good display in the final also if the Aussies have to clinch the coveted title.
Among others, off-spinner Lisa Sthalekar, Rene Farrell and Leah Poulton were the women to watch in the Australian bowling ranks.