White Ferns’ draw
Feb 12: v Australia, 6am
Feb 14: v South Africa, 6am
Feb 18: v Bangladesh, 2am
Feb 20: v Sri Lanka, 6am
Feb 23-24: Semifinals
Feb 27: Final
Format
Nice and simple. There are two groups of five teams. They played each other in a round robin and the top two from each group progress through to the semifinals , where the top team in Group A will play the runner-up in Group B and vice-versa. The final is scheduled for February 27. The White Ferns are in Group A with Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. England, India, Ireland, Pakistan and the West Indies will contest Group B.
World Cup leading statistics
Leading scorer: 929 at 30.96, Suzie Bates (NZ)
Highest score: 126, Meg Lanning (Aus)
Most wickets: 41, Anya Shrubsole (Eng)
Best bowling (innings): 5 for 5, Deandra Dottin (WI)
Most matches: 36, Ellyse Perry (Aus)
Five players to watch
(New Zealand)
The Otago right-armer is arguably the No 3-ranked spinner in the White Ferns squad, but picked up three wickets in a warm-up game against England and has shone since making her debut last year. She has nabbed 11 wickets in eight T20 internationals and the 21-year just keeps getting better with each outing. The White Ferns have the luxury of being able to play three spinners in the line-up because leggie Melie Kerr bats in the top four.
Ashleigh Gardner
Garner snatched the ICC No 1 ranking as a T20 all-rounder in December following a tremendous series in India, where she captured seven wickets and scored 115 runs. The 25-year-old heads into the tournament with an impressive record. She has scored more than 1000 runs in the format at a strike rate north of 130 and average of 27.33. The right arm spinner also has 43 wickets at a strike rate of 20.
(Ireland)
Very sneaky way of featuring a second New Zealander in the five to watch. The 29-year-old is an Auckland-born medium pacer who has forged a useful career with the Hearts. But she linked up with the Irish team last year and in 16 T20s for team she has taken 21 wickets at a strike rate of 15.4. Kelly has scored a list A century and averages just over 20 with the bat in the longer format.
Smriti Mandhana
(India)
The left-handed Mandhana is a vastly experienced campaigner with more the 2500 runs in the bank and is the ICC No 3 ranked T20 batter. The 26-year-old played a vital role in inflicting Australia’s only loss in 2022. She clouted 79 off 49 balls, and then returned in the Super Over to club 13 off the last three balls.
Sophie Ecclestone
Left-armer spinners are worth their weight in chocolate fish in T20. The 23-year-old is the ICC No 1 ranked T20 bowler and it is easy to see why when you look at her career record. In 65 games for England she has 86 wickets at an average of 16.22. She picked up four wickets in the series against the West Indies late last year, and with some helpful surfaces will be an enormous threat.
■Statistics correct as of February 1
