*WEST INDIES WOMEN VS IRELAND WOMEN 1st ODI PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
Women’s cricket- it’s a privilege to be witnessing it. It does not happen very regularly but sure is a treat to watch. We get to explore the different and varied aspects of our beautiful game, something which we as cricket lovers, can’t do by watching just the men compete against one another. The excitement, the dimension and the very existence of experience changes when a person is watching 22 women step out on the field and go about their business.
The Women’s Ashes is going on in full flow and it feels good to see Ireland tour Windies for a cracking multi format series starting off with 3 ODIs with one of them placed tomorrow at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia- a pretty little island. Both teams are coming off series defeats to Pakistan and England respectively but would look to back their skills come this series and start afresh. While Ireland were blanked by Pakistan, Windies received some whitewash hammering from England. Both units would like to forget their latest outings as soon as possible and make it count starting from tomorrow.
*WESTINDIES PROBABLE XI:*
Hayley Mathews(c), Rashada Williams(wk), Shaimaine Campbell, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Cherry Ann Fraser, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Shabika Gajnabi, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell
Taylor’s return to this setup is a massive bonus because she adds that extra bite to the middle order and coupled with the likes of Henry and Campbelle, she’d be integral in adding effective runs which will be needed once the ball starts to get old. Similar to how most ODIs pan out in the Windies, the pitches become better for batting as the game progresses and that is exactly where this troika can hamper Ireland’s chances.
No doubt WI would rely on Hayley for the bulk of the run scoring. She is an absolute superstar of the game and has collected 1915 runs in this format with 6 centuries to her name. The fact that she only has 3 fifties talks alot about her conversion rate which Windies fans would like to see go up after the end of this ODI series. She is the backbone of this side and has been churning out the runs as well. She enjoyed her time at the WPL where different kinds of attacks were on the receiving end of her carnage and come tomorrow, we could expect another riveting show.
*IRELAND PROBABLE XI:*
Leah Paul, Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter, Laura Delany(c), Mary Wauldron(wk), Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Georgina Dumpsey, Louise Little, Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray
Gaby, the opening batter for Ireland alongside the most reliable batter of Ireland in the form of their skipper Laura Delany could be the ones to watch out for. Expecting them to have a cracker of a series, one where they’d adjust to these conditions nicely and take a toll on the bowling lineup of WestIndies which is a pretty strong one. They have 754 and 869 runs in this prestigious format respectively and would love to go past 800 and 900 within the first game. The irish fans will be looking forward to seeing how the ladies conquer the game with an away series win and these two could be instrumental in achieving that auspicious feat.
What makes Delany an even more reliable bet is her effectiveness with the ball in hand. Having 22 wickets to her so far with best figures of 3/22, the skipper of the women in green will be looking to lead from the front. The opening bowler Orla Prendergast has been a vital player for Ireland and the team would expectedly bank on her for the early breakthroughs to rattle the women of the Caribbean early.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THIS GAME:*
*FOR WI:*
Highest run getter- Hayley Mathews/Chinelle Henry
Highest wicket taker- Stafanie Taylor/Shamilia Connell
*FOR IRE:*
Highest run getter- Gaby Lewis/Laura Delany
Highest wicket taker- Orla Prendergast/Louise Little/Cara Murray
*FOR THIS GAME:*
Women from WestIndies to secure victory.