In-form World Cup hosts eye big win in tournament opener

MATCH CENTRE

New Zealand v West Indies
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
4 March, 2 PM Local time

Only three nations have ever won a Women’s Cricket World Cup, and New Zealand are one of those courtesy of their 2000 triumph on home soil.

But the White Ferns have not reached a final in over a decade and will need to perform far above their ranking level of fifth in the world if they are to claim the trophy at home for a second time.

A win on the board first up would ease the nerves for Sophie Devine’s host team, and they will fancy their chances of doing just that against a West Indies side who have won just 13 of their 39 ODI matches since the last 50-over World Cup in England back in 2017.

Recent form suggests that New Zealand could be peaking at precisely the right time, with Devine’s side going into the tournament on the back of a 4-1 series win over India and a crushing nine-wicket defeat of top-ranked Australia.

However, New Zealand will be wary of a West Indies line-up that possesses some star quality capable of upsetting any opponent at the tournament.

Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin will likely hold the key to the West Indies’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals, and the trio will be eyeing big performances to upset the odds at Bay Oval on Friday.

THE TEAMS

New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Amy Satterthwaite (vc), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu. Travelling Reserve: Molly Penfold

West Indies Squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Anisa Mohammed (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada William. Travelling Reserves: Kaysia Schultz, Mandy Mangru, Jannillea Glasgow

KEY PLAYERS

Amelia Kerr: The all-rounder is arguably the form player in the world right now, having played a big role with both bat and ball during her side’s build-up to the tournament. Kerr smashed one hundred and three half-centuries during the series win over India, picking up nine wickets too. And her outstanding unbeaten 92 played a big part in the nine-wicket thumping of Australia in New Zealand’s final warm-up game.

Stafanie Taylor: The West Indies all-rounder is a proven match-winner on her day and is always the wicket that opposition teams want most. Taylor is just as adept with her slow off-spin and is definitely one to keep an eye on.

EXPERT DREAM11 FANTASY TIPS

Captaincy Pick – Sophie Devine

New Zealand’s captain Sophie Devine heads into the World Cup on the back of an unbeaten 161 against Australia in the second warm-up match, a game in which she also took two wickets. She boasts an excellent record against the West Indies, having scored 532 runs in 14 innings at an average of 40.92. She has three half-centuries to go with a century against the Windies, and has also picked up nine wickets.

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Must-have – Amelia Kerr

The 21-year-old allrounder has been outstanding in 2022. She was the leading scorer in the ODI series against India, with 353 runs in five matches. She also picked up seven wickets, putting herself joint-top of the wicket-takers charts as well. She has registered three half-centuries to go with a century in her last four ODIs, and finished unbeaten on 92 in the second warm-up match against Australia, while also picking up a wicket.

WHAT THEY SAID

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine: "(The New Zealand men's side) really did have the whole country behind them (in 2015) and we're hoping we can do something similar in igniting the passion that so many Kiwis have for their sport and hopefully they can get behind us as well.

“We know if we play a really exciting brand of cricket that we can get the whole country behind, that's going to leave a legacy."

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor: “I think we're making strides (in the ODI format). For us, it is more about improving every time and getting better at that.

“You probably wouldn't want to play the hosts in the first game but it is what it is.

“I think for us, we have to go out there and play to the best of our abilities. You can see New Zealand doing pretty well, we've had a lot of cricket to look at, so hopefully we could get one over them."

THE VENUE

This game is one of seven matches scheduled to be held at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui over the course of the tournament.

The 10,000-seater stadium has hosted international fixtures since 2014, nine years after it was officially opened in Blake Park.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

All eight teams at the tournament will play each other across seven rounds in a league format.

The top four teams in the standings after the conclusion of the Group Stage will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in the final week of March.

LATER FIXTURES

New Zealand’s tournament fixtures:

4 March v West Indies
7 March v Bangladesh
10 March v India
13 March v Australia
17 March v South Africa
20 March v England
26 March v Pakistan

West Indies’ tournament fixtures:

4 March v New Zealand
9 March v England
12 March v India
15 March v Australia
18 March v Bangladesh
21 March v Pakistan
24 March v South Africa