India will be looking to win a world title in the women’s game for the first time on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when they take on the host nation in front of what is anticipated to be a sold out crowd on International Women’s Day in the Australian sporting capital.
India have struggled to get over the line in winning world events recently having cruised through the pool stages. They have come unstuck in a semi final or final on several occasions over the last six years. Can the girls in blue change that against the favourites, hosts and defending champions when the two sides lock horns on Sunday evening in Melbourne as the 2020 instalment of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup draws to a close?
India:
Lost 2014 World T20 final.
Lost 2015 World Cup semi.
Lost 2016 U19 World Cup final.
Lost 2016 World T20 semi.
Lost 2017 Champions Trophy final.
Lost 2017 Women’s World Cup final.
Lost 2018 Women’s World T20 semi.
Lost 2019 World Cup semi.
Lost 2020 U19 World Cup final.
Previous India vs Australia ICC Competition Finals
2003 World Cup = Australia won.
2005 Women’s World Cup = Australia won.
2012 Under-19 World Cup = India won.
2018 Under 19 World Cup final = India won.
Other tournament knockout encounters:
2007 World T20 semi final = India won.
2011 World Cup quarter final = India won.
2015 World Cup semi final = Australia won.
2017 Women’s World Cup semi final = India won.
2020 Under-19 World Cup Quarter final = India won.
Looking ahead to the game and event itself, Ellyse Perry might not be performing on the pitch with her injury ruling herself out of the latter stages of the tournament, but pop icon Katy Perry will however be performing on the day to entertain spectators. Perry has previously performed at the IPL opening ceremony and has a fond admirer in Geoffrey Boycott who she has met in person at one of her concerts in the past.
India earned a spot in the final having topped their group following the abandoned semi final against England in Sydney today. India have defeated Australia in their last three meetings at ICC World Events in the Women’s game. Just like England and India in the last ODI Women’s World Cup, India are involved in the opening and closing match of the tournament against the same opponents in the host nation. But unlike then, can they beat them twice in the same tournament?
Just like the 2017 Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s, the premier cricketing venue in the country which is the MCG in this case, will only be staging the final match and title decider in the tournament. Captain Meg Lanning was incidentally born on the day there was a famous World Cup final at the MCG in 1992. Will she lead her impressive side to victory in the month of her birth at that venue 28 years later?
It is a dream final for the organisers with the host nation taking on a big ticket team in India. It is the biggest game in the history of women’s international cricket given the anticipated interest worldwide and expected crowd attendance at the venue. And also, the fact it is a T20 contest which appeals to the masses as opposed to a fifty over affair also adds to the occasion. Australia are favourites, but will be wary of an undefeated India led by the talented big hitting Harmanpreet Kaur who will be eager to spoil their big day. The visitors will have no shortage of support themselves from the Bharat Army and co.
After over two years of planning in the ambition to sell out the “G” on Sunday 8th March 2020, the big day is almost finally here. The Southern Stars have made the final of the Twenty20 Cup for the 6th time in a row, but surely at home this will be the most special one for Meg Lanning’s side, especially if they go on to enjoy a victorious result.
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