Women’s T20 World Cup, Group B Preview: England, South Africa favourites but Bangladesh, Scotland look to impress

The 2024 women’s T20 World Cup will get underway at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 10 teams taking part. Hosts India are in Group A along with Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka but our focus for now will be Group B that comprises of England, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and debutants Scotland.

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England, winners of the inaugural edition in 2009, will be one of the favourites to lift the title this year, along with West Indies who won the title in 2016. South Africa will be hoping to go one better this time and win the elusive trophy after having finished as runners-up in 2023, losing the final to Australia.

England

England’s only title triumph in the Women’s T20 World Cup came back in the 2009 edition. England have made the semi-finals six times since then, and the final thrice, in 2010, 2014, and 2018, where they ended up runners-up to Australia on all three occasions. Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Sarah Glenn will lead England’s spin bowling department. They also have options in Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey.

England also boast of a formidable batting lineup that includes skipper Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Sophia Dunkley.  Sophia Dunkley is also there but she has not been in the best of form of late.

Player to watch

Nat Sciver-Brunt: Nat Sciver-Brunt has been a key player for England over the last decade or so. She is also in positive form heading to the Women’s T20 World Cup, having scored three fifties in The Hundred tournament in England. She also has game time, having played both the  T20 World Cup warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand, scoring 31 against the latter in a winning cause.

Squad: Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath.

Fixtures

Vs Bangladesh: 5 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs South Africa: 7 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs Scotland: 13 October 2024, Sharjah, 3.30 pm

Vs West Indies: 15 October 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm

South Africa

South Africa finished as the runners-up of the 2023 edition at home and will be looking to win their elusive title come the tournament in the UAE. This time, however, they have a new captain in Laura Wolvaardt, who took over from Sune Luus in 2023. Apart from their runners-up finish last year, South Africa have reached the semi-finals only twice, in 2014 and 2020.

Batting is South Africa’s strength going into the Women’s T20 World Cup. They have Tamzin Brits and Anneke Bosch who have scored a few runs, although not quite a lot. Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus, and Chloe Tryon make South Africa look like a formidable batting side on paper. The experienced all-rounder Marizanne Kapp is also there.

Player to watch

Laura Wolvaardt: The South African skipper herself is a player to watch out for. She is coming on the back of scoring a few but consistent runs, having played knocks of 36 and 35 against Pakistan in September. She followed it up with scores of 33 and 29 in the warm-up match against New Zealand and India only a few days ago.

Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon

Fixtures

Vs West Indies: 4 October 2024, Dubai, 3.30 pm

Vs England: 7 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs Scotland: 9 October 2024, Dubai, 3.30 pm

Vs Bangladesh: 12 October 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm

Bangladesh

Bangladesh will be led by Nigar Sultana at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. This was supposed to be a home T20 World Cup for Bangladesh, but due to political tensions in the country, the tournament was moved out of the country to UAE. However, Sultana would hope a change of venue would not dampen her team’s hopes.

Bangladesh recently reached the semi-finals of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and also defeated South Africa in an ODI. Bangladesh boast of an excellent spin attack that consists of Rabeya Khan, Jahanara Ala, Nahida Akter, and Marufa Akter.

Bangladesh haven’t surpassed the group stage in a decade of regularly playing in the competition.

Player to watch

Shorna Akter: Shorna Akter is just 17 years old but she has developed herself as one of the most pivotal players in the team. She played her maiden T20 World Cup in South Africa last year, where she picked up just two wickets, and since then, she has a three-fer and a five-fer in the shortest format. The all-rounder has taken 11 wickets and 189 runs in 23 matches since then.

Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha Biswas

Fixtures

Vs Scotland: 3 October 2024, Sharjah, 3.30 pm

Vs England: 5 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs West Indies: 10 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs South Africa: 12 October 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm

West Indies

West Indies, the 2016 champions, have a strong record of making the knockout stage consistently. Out of the last five editions of the tournament, the Windies have made the semi-finals five times.

They will be led by skipper Hayley Matthews once again, who is the No. 1 all-rounder in the world. They have another versatile all-rounder Deandra Dottin, who can be relied upon when it comes to pressure match situations. The experience of Stafanie Taylor will also be invaluable.

Player to watch out for

Hayley Matthews: Hayley Mathews has led her team from the front on previous occasions, and will look to do the same in the UAE. There is nobody more versatile than the 26-year-old, who can bowl whenever and wherever as per match conditions. She is as brilliant with the bat, just like how she showed at the Caribbean Premier League for the Barbados Royals, where she scored consecutive fifties.

Squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vc, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton

Fixtures

Vs South Africa: 4 October 2024, Dubai, 3.30 pm

Vs Scotland: 6 October, 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm

Vs Bangladesh: 10 October 2024, Sharjah, 7.30 pm

Vs England: 15 October 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm

Scotland

Scotland will be making their maiden appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup this year. They qualified for the showpiece tournament finishing as runners-up at the T20 World Cup Qualifiers earlier in 2024. The squad will be led by Kathryn Bryce, with her sister Sarah Bryce also featuring.

Scotland are set for their first ever Women’s #T20WorldCup 💪#WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/T39mR8VCvU

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) September 30, 2024

The squad also includes pacer Rachel Slater and spinner Abtaha Maqsooq who will have crucial roles to play. Group B is certainly a tough group for Scotland and it remains to be seen how far they can go in UAE.

Player to watch

Kathryn Bryce: Skipper Kathryn Bryce is an invaluable asset to the Scotland side. Consistency is something that is in her favour currently. She picked up a five-fer in The Hundred and a four-fer in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy recently. She also scored an unbeaten 87 in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. In the warm-up matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, she registered figures of 3/20 and 1/6 respectively.

Squad: Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce (vc), Lorna Jack-Brown, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Abtaha Maqsood, Saskia Horley, Chloe Abel, Priyanaz Chatterji, Megan McColl, Darcey Carter, Ailsa Lister, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater, Katherine Fraser, Olivia Bell.

Fixtures

Vs Bangladesh: 3 October 2024, Sharjah, 3.30 pm
Vs West Indies: 6 October 2024, Dubai, 7.30 pm
Vs South Africa: 9 October 2024, Dubai, 3.30 pm
Vs England: 13 October 2024, Sharjah, 3.30 pm