*ENGLAND WOMEN VS AUSTRALIA WOMEN 3rd T20I PREVIEW- 3 MATCH T20 SERIES 2023*
*THE BUILD UP:*
A game for the ages, a fitting end to a blockbuster and one which was enjoyed through and out by all fans. England just triumphed Australia in a nail biting thriller and ended up levelling the series at London. Now with the third T20I placed at the iconic Lord’s, this series couldn’t have asked for a better venue for the finale clash.
*AUS PROBABLE XI:*
Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Australia were dead and buried at 96/5 when Perry decided to turn her beast mode on and smashed England for 51 runs in the middle overs off just 21 deliveries, striking comfortably at over 200 and showing who the boss is. She was clinical with how she tackled the English bowlers and would be hoping to bring the same kind of form to Lords as well, a venue where we have seen crazy and insane things happening out of the blue. Perry also picked up a wicket leaking just 5 in an over, she could be a threatening allround package.
The team that wins the toss is most likely to bowl with the new cherry that is expected to nip around a bit and cause trouble to the batters. That makes the role of Megan Schutt, the most experienced specialist pace bowler in this Aussie lineup crucial and she is the one to watch out for. We have seen how big Perry can swing the bowl and it would be interesting to see if Healy gives her the new ball duties or sticks to the accuracy of Darcie brown.
After an outing to forget for the tentative Aussie skipper in the first T20I, she marked her return in some style with a staggering 19 ball 37 with 2 sixes and 5 fours. It lasted for only a short while but blew my mind away, and the minds of all others witnessing this classic inside the stadium. What stood out for me was how she started and continue to march along nicely. The English would look to counter her and stop her from giving Australia a breezy start like this.
*ENGLAND PROBABLE XI:*
Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Danielle Gibson, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Freya Davies, Lauren Bell
Alot of criticism was going through the rounds for someone like Wyatt, who has below average T20I numbers and failed in the first T20I Ashes game vs Australia too. But her classy knock of 76 off 46 with 13 magnificent boundaries to support it, came at the perfect time. She would be extremely happy to carry this momentum forward and treat the women from Downunder the same way, At lords and nothing would give her more pleasure than proving her critics wrong again.
Eccelestone is such a complete cricketer. If her 2 wicket haul last game wasn’t enough, she came up with an impactful cameo of 22 runs off 12 as well, which if we see in hindsight ended up boosting Englands score at the end and became one of the reasons for their 3 run close win. The Aussies have found her too tough to handle all this while and she is in the position to take advantage of this notion again and again and again, till the time England conquer all odds.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR AUS:*
Highest run getter- Alyssa Healy/Elyse Perry
Highest wicket taker- Jess Jonassen/Megan Schutt
*FOR ENG:*
Highest run getter- Sophia Dunkley/Nat Sciver Brunt
Highest wicket taker- Eccelestone/Sarah Glenn
*FOR THE GAME:*
Australia to win and complete a T20I series victory.