Australia Women to face England Women in 3rd ODI [Source: @cricketcomau, @englandcricket/X.com]
For the final ODI of the three-game series, Australia Women will host England Women at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. The matchup is scheduled to go on floors on January 17 from 4.35 AM IST.
Australia Women
Australia Women have clinched the series with a 2-0 lead after beating England Women by 21 runs in the last outing. Despite a minor hiccup in their batting lineup, their bowlers saved the day with a clinical performance. Ellyse Perry played a crucial role with 60 off 74 balls to steer Australia to a 180-run total.
With the ball, Alana King grabbed a sensational four-wicket-haul before Kim Grath supported her with three wickets as Australia bowled out England for 159 runs. Overall, Australia’s variety in bowling, combined with consistent economy rates, makes them a force to be reckoned with.
England Women
England Women, under Heather Knight’s leadership, face a must-win scenario to regain momentum after a disappointing Ashes campaign. England’s batting has struggled, with key players like Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier needing to step up at the top. Middle-order stalwarts Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt must step up to stabilise things.
Amy Jones has shown resilience but needs support from her teammates to build match-winning partnerships. Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, and Alice Capsey remain England’s primary wicket-taking options, capable of restricting Australia’s strong batting lineup.
AU-W vs EN-W Head to head in ODIs
Matches Played | Australia Women | England Women | No Result | Tied |
---|---|---|---|---|
85 | 59 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
How will the Bellerive pitch behave?
The Bellerive Oval offers a balanced wicket, which slightly favours bowlers early on but flattens out as the game progresses, making it a favourable surface for batting in the second innings. Early movement for seamers in the first innings could trouble the batters, while spinners might find assistance later.
The average first-inning score is 266 whereas a score of 275-290 could prove to be a winning total in this game. History suggests that teams bowling first hold a slight edge, with 6 out of the last 10 ODI matches at this venue being won by the chasing side.
Players to watch out for in AU-W vs EN-W 3rd ODI
Australia Women
Ellyse Perry: The prolific all-rounder played a vital role with the bat in the last game. Her all-round skills will likely be the difference maker in the 3rd ODI as well.
Alana King: She is the leading wicket-taker with six wickets in two ODIs. King is deceptive and can pick wickets at regular intervals using her variations.
Alyssa Healy: The skipper has been the leading run-scorer in this ODI series with 99 runs in two games. Though Healy's bat didn’t fire in the last game, she holds the key to Australia’s good start as an opener.
Kim Grath: Another bowler who impressed Australia is Kim Grath. She scalped five wickets in two games and will be key to playing a supporting role for Alana.
England Women
Amy Jones: She amassed 78 runs in two ODIs with a 58.65 strike rate. Amy anchored the innings with her gritty knock in the last game, showing her ability to hold one end while looking for support from the other batters.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt: Natalie has scored 54 runs in two games. However, her small contributions are not enough to put England at the top. She will be tasked to lead from the front in the last ODI.
Sophie Ecclestone: She is fighting a lone battle for England with six wickets in two ODIs. Her masterclass in control and precision makes Ecclestone a player to watch out for.
Lauren Bell: Bell has also been outstanding with three wickets in two games. She must continue bowling economical spells to control Australia’s mighty batting lineup.
Today's Match Prediction: AU-W vs EN-W 3rd ODI
Predicted Top Performers
Australia Women – Alyssa Healy, Alana King, Ellyse Perry
England Women – Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight
AU-W vs EN-W 3rd ODI: Predicted Score
Predicted first innings score: 270-290
Predicted second innings score: 260-270