Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Match 8, WI-W vs SCO-W Match Prediction: Who Will Win Today's Match?
West Indies Women lost their first match vs South Africa Women [Source: @ICC/x.com]
In Match 8 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, West Indies Women will face Scotland Women at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 6. Both teams are desperate to open their accounts after suffering defeats in their respective opening matches, making this contest a tantalizing encounter. With both sides reeling from early losses, it's time to bring their A-game to the table as they seek redemption.
West Indies Women Look to Regain Lost Ground
West Indies Women, led by the ever-reliable Hayley Matthews, had a rough start to their campaign, suffering a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa. After being sent in to bat, the Caribbean side struggled to find their rhythm, with both Matthews and Qiana Joseph departing cheaply for 10 and 4 runs, respectively.
The innings lacked any significant partnerships, as Deandra Dottin (13) and Shemaine Campbell (17) could not capitalize on their starts. Chinelle Henry’s golden duck compounded the team's woes.
However, veteran batter Stafanie Taylor was a lone fighter for the Windies. Her unbeaten 44 off 41 balls was the glue holding the innings together, but with little support from the rest of the lineup, West Indies could only post a modest total of 118/6.
In response, West Indies bowling unit was put to the sword. The South African openers chased down the target with ease, handing the Windies a defeat that must have stung. Chinelle Henry’s two overs went wicketless and expensive, conceding 20 runs.
While Matthews was economical with the ball, she too failed to break through, as did Karishma Ramharack, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, and Shamilia Connell. For West Indies, it’s clear they’ll need to turn things around quickly or risk digging themselves into a hole they can’t escape from.
The Windies will be itching to bounce back and set the record straight. With two crucial points on the line, they need to pull a rabbit out of the hat and put their campaign back on track.
Scotland Women Seek Collective Brilliance
Scotland Women also had a rocky start to their tournament, going down by 16 runs in their opening match against Bangladesh Women. Bowling first, Scotland managed to restrict Bangladesh to 119/7, thanks to a stellar performance by Saskia Horley, who weaved magic with her spell, picking up 3 wickets for just 13 runs in her two overs.
The ever-dependable captain Kathryn Bryce, Olivia Bell, and Katherine Fraser chipped in with a wicket each, while Abtaha Maqsood and Rachel Slater were economical, though wicketless.
Despite their disciplined bowling effort, Scotland’s batters struggled to make a mark. Sarah Bryce, the only batter to show resistance, fought valiantly with an unbeaten 49 off 52 balls, but the rest of the lineup crumbled like a house of cards.
The likes of Horley, Bryce, Ailsa Lister, and Priyanaz Chhaterji all fell cheaply, leaving Scotland short of the target at 103/7 in their 20 overs.
Scotland's bowlers have shown they can keep things tight, but their batting unit must rise to the occasion. With a little more collective effort and application, they have the potential to pull off an upset and shake things up in the tournament.
How Will the Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Behave?
The Dubai surface has shown signs of being a challenge for batters, with pacers and spinners finding assistance. The average first-innings score at the stadium in this tournament has been around 118, and the trend so far suggests that teams batting first have had the upper hand.
WI-W vs SCO-W: Predicted Toss Result
With the pitch expected to slow down as the game progresses, the captain winning the toss might look to bat first and put the opposition under pressure.
WI-W vs SCO-W: Players To Watch Out For
West Indies Women
Batters: Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle
All-rounders: Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin
Bowlers: Afy Fletcher
Scotland Women
Batters: Sarah Bryce
All-rounder: Kathryn Bryce, Saskia Horley
Bowlers: Rachel Slater, Abtaha Maqsood
WI-W vs SCO-W: Match Prediction
WI-W vs SCO-W: Predicted Score
Predicted first innings score: 100-125
Predicted second innings score: 100-120
Predicted Result: The team batting first will have an advantage in this match.