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In the second section of our team-by-team preview, we examine Group B, which consists of Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies, in preparation for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. Many of the clubs in it consider it to be the “easier” group.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh has only won two of the first 21 games in the T20 World Cup, showing a lack of success. They occurred in 2014 versus Sri Lanka and Ireland. Only two of their twelve Twenty20 International matches this year have they won, against Malaysia and Thailand in the Asia Cup. They have typically fallen short, particularly when it comes to batting, versus Australia, India, and Sri Lanka. They did, however, triumph over India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in this format last year. Bangladesh might be a challenge since the competition is being held in the United Arab Emirates, where it is anticipated to help spinners with low bounce available.
South Africa
After the men followed them to a final in June, the excitement of being the first senior South African team to make it to the World Cup final has worn off, and Laura Wolvaardt’s team is under pressure to perform even better this time around. The administration bears a large portion of the burden for the lack of indicators that they can follow through on.
The captaincy has stabilised, at least. Wolvaardt has taken up the position full-time and has been performing brilliantly. She is the most productive T20I batsman for South Africa this year, although until they overcame Pakistan 2-1 in the final, they had lost all six of their series since the previous year’s championship. They are hoping they can find form after beating Australia.
West Indies
West Indies, the only team to win a T20 World Cup outside of Australia and England, are living proof that the trophy can change hands, and they will be eager to reclaim it. West Indies are in good form right now. Since the last World Cup, they have participated in four T20I series and won three of them. This entails defeating Australia, winning a match away from home against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and chasing 213 in North Sydney. That occurred during the first series under new coach Shane Deitz, who succeeded Courtney Walsh.
The bowling might be a cause for concern, but the West Indies have a solid batting lineup overall. Due to the lack of a clear attack leader and the need to rely on a variety of spinners, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, and Chinelle Henry are tasked with keeping rival line-ups at bay. The West Indies may get another chance at glory if they are successful.
England
England enters this World Cup with a new look—not in terms of players, as they have kept 11 of the 15 players who qualified for the 2023 tournament—but rather in terms of style. Under head coach Jon Lewis, who had only recently assumed leadership, they appear to be a more unified team as well, and they are attacking more with the bat and the ball.
Their reckless approach doesn’t always work, as evidenced by their two most recent Twenty20 International series; they weren’t convincing against Pakistan in a 3-0 triumph, but when it works, it can be deadly. Just ask New Zealand, who lost 5-0. However, their 2-1 victory against Australia in the T20 portion of the Women’s Ashes series last year gave them a lot of confidence.
Scotland
A more expected loss to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of that competition didn’t deter the qualifier from their story of beating Ireland to earn their first-ever berth in the Women’s T20 World Cup. Pushing past their happiness to be here and taking a chance on Bangladesh will be a major struggle.
They had played in qualification in Abu Dhabi, thus they have recent familiarity with the circumstances. Their squad, which is coached by Kathryn Bryce, is full of experienced players. Eleven players on the team, including the captain, have experience playing cricket at the domestic level in Australia or England. Her bat will be very important, as will that of her wicketkeeper sister Sarah.