Muneeba Ali will lead Pakistan in absence of Fatima Sana. It's toss time..
Match Discussion
Muneeba Ali will lead Pakistan in absence of Fatima Sana. It's toss time..
Healy gives it a flick, tails is the call but heads it is. Australia will bowl first.
Healy explains her decision saying it is a bit of a gut feel, plus the fact that this is a fresh wicket. Adds that it looks a good cricket wicket, a bit more consistent bounce-wise and more turn (than Sharjah). One change for Australia - Harris goes out, Vlaeminck comes in.
Muneeba Ali: Looking forward to this match. It's a sad news, but these things are not under our control. We will miss her.
Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt
Pitch: 63m and 57m square boundaries, 73m down the ground. Looks a good surface. There's an even covering of bounce, fast bowlers will get some good results. There will be swing for the pace bowlers.
Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Muneeba Ali(w/c), Sidra Amin, Nida Dar, Sadaf Shamas, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah
Sophie Molineux: I spent a bit of time on the side-lines, but really nice to be back, especially in this Australian team. It is a lot of fun and we are enjoying our time in Dubai. Everyone is chipping in at different times. That last game against NZ, we had this next-level energy out in the middle and hopefully we can keep that going for the rest of the tournament. (On playing at different venues) We are going to have to adapt - that has been the key word for this whole tournament so far. New challenge, new stadium, and it looks amazing. They (Pakistan) are a really tough opposition. They have a few players who can take the game away from you. We have gone through our planning and hopefully we can execute (tonight).
Australia have gone back to their combination from their opening game, with them now having five seam-bowling options. If there is some pace and bounce on offer, Vlaeminck, with her brisk pace, could be quite a handful.
Raza Haidery: "Its kind of disappointing to see Tayla Vlaeminck not being part of the side. A pace gun like her can make the already formidable Aussie bowling more strong" -- Well, she has a chance to stake her claim tonight.
Both teams are lining up for their respective national anthems. The Pakistan national anthem is up first, and it will be followed by Australia's anthem.
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