Mackay, Sep 21 (IANS) As the New Zealand women's cricket team gears up for their T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE, skipper Sophie Devine has expressed confidence in her side's ability to adapt to the spin-friendly conditions of the subcontinent.
Historically, the scorching heat and dry pitches in the region have favoured spinners, a stark contrast to the overcast, seam-friendly conditions of New Zealand. However, Devine believes his team has worked hard to adjust and is up for the challenge. “We are clear about how we want to play and what we think is going to work in those conditions. We have reflected on how we played before and we have also reflected on what the conditions are like,” Devine told the ICC.
With a full focus on spin bowling and an effective strike rate, New Zealand are determined to ensure they can score effectively while limiting their opponents' opportunities. “There's a full focus on spin bowling, which I'm sure everyone will notice, but for us it's about strike rate and scoring shot percentage. We want to be really busy at the crease. Every run is going to be valuable in these conditions,” Devine emphasised.
Devine also highlighted the importance of accuracy with the ball. The team is aiming to force the opposition to play difficult shots by maintaining pressure. New Zealand's recent performances in England and Australia may not have been up to their expectations, but Devine stressed that the World Cup is a whole new contest where any team can come out on top.
“In one-sided matches and World Cup cricket, everyone starts from zero, so we are really looking forward to the opportunity to play against world-class teams,” she said. Recalling her previous World Cup experiences, Devine recalled the 2016 Women's T20 World Cup in India, when New Zealand pulled off a memorable win against arch-rivals Australia. In that match, Australia were restricted to 103/8 thanks to Leigh Kasperek's brilliant bowling, and the White Ferns chased down the target with ease.
“That was definitely one of my favourite T20 World Cup moments, beating Australia on the subcontinent,” Devine said. “We managed to get a great win against a team that was doing really well at the time.” Looking ahead, Devine knows her team faces a tough group, which includes India, Australia and Sri Lanka. However, she remains optimistic, believing the challenging competition will bring out the best in her team. “When you have India and Australia as well as Sri Lanka, it's going to be quite tough to go on, but we like our chances,” she said.
New Zealand will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against India in Dubai on October 4, while the much-anticipated match against Australia will take place in Sharjah on October 8.
–IANS
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