Women's World T20 2014: Dates, Fixtures, Groups, Predictions and Preview
New Zealand opened the Women's World Twenty20 tournament with a big seven-run win over Australia.
The defeated champions are joined by England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies—the top six sides from the 2012 tournament
The top three qualifiers, Ireland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are joined by host nation Bangladesh in this year's contest.
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The competition will run between March 24 and April 6, with qualification play-offs for the 2016 tournament on April 2.
| Group A | Group B |
| Australia | Bangladesh |
| Ireland | England |
| New Zealand | India |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| South Africa | West Indies |
| Date | Time | Fixture |
| March 23 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | Australia v New Zealand, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 23 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | South Africa v Pakistan, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 24 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | England v West Indies, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 24 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | India v Sri Lanka, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 25 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | New Zealand v Ireland, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 25 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | Australia v South Africa, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 26 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | West Indies v Bangladesh, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 26 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | England v India, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 27 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | Australia v Ireland, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 27 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | New Zealand v Pakistan, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 28 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | England v Bangladesh, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 28 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | West Indies v Sri Lanka, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 29 | 9.30 a.m. GMT, 5.30 a.m. ET | South Africa v Ireland, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 29 | 1.30 p.m. GMT, 9.30 a.m. ET | Australia v Pakistan, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 30 | 10.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | India v Bangladesh, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 30 | 2.30 p.m. BST, 9.30 a.m. ET | England v Sri Lanka, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 31 | 10.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | Pakistan v Ireland, Sylhet (d/n) |
| March 31 | 2.30 p.m. BST, 9.30 a.m. ET | New Zealand v South Africa, Sylhet (d/n) |
| April 1 | 10.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Sylhet (d/n) |
| April 1 | 2.30 p.m. BST, 9.30 a.m. ET | West Indies v India, Sylhet (d/n) |
| April 2 | 10.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | World Twenty20 2016 qualification play-offs: A3 v B4, Sylhet (d/n) |
| April 2 | 2.30 p.m. BST, 9.30 a.m. ET | World Twenty20 2016 qualification play-offs: A4 v B3, Sylhet (d/n) |
| April 3 | 9.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | Semi-final: A1 v B2, Mirpur (d/n) |
| April 4 | 9.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | Semi-final: A2 v B1, Mirpur (d/n) |
| April 6 | 9.30 a.m. BST, 5.30 a.m. ET | Final: Mirpur (d/n) |
Holders Suffer Opening-Day Defeat
New Zealand recorded a score of 128/8, which was enough to win a thrilling final-over seven-run victory against Australia.
It all came down to Holly Ferling who needed to score eight from the final four balls, but she could not muster the runs required to win the match.
Former England cricketer Isa Guha noted the excellent turnaround from the side who lost to England in a warm-up match leading into the tournament:
The Aussies won the toss and opted to field, with Suzie Bates and Frances Mackay opening the batting.
Bates managed just five runs before being trapped lbw by Jess Jonassen, which brought Sara McGlashan to the crease and she hit just 15.
Mackay fell for 25, becoming the third batter to fall lbw.
Rachel Priest then entered the crease and fell for just five, but Katie Perkins batted well before being dismissed for a respectable 31, leaving the side at 89-5.
Nicola Browne and Katey Martin then hit 29 and 15 respectively, before Maddie Green managed just one before being run out by Alex Blackwell.
Hayley Jenson remained unbeaten on zero at the end, as the side recorded a low score of 128.
It was then Australia's turn to bat and it didn't start well, with Elyse Villani dismissed for one run off just two balls.
Alyssa Healy fared much better, though, with four boundary fours helping her to a run a ball 41.
While Healy stuck around, she saw Meg Lanning fall for two runs and Jess Cameron lose her wicket for a duck.
The 23-year-old Healy did finally get dismissed, though, after Bates pinned her lbw to leave the score at 59-4.
Alex Blackwell then looked to be guiding her side to victory as she notched 31 with three fours, while Ellyse Perry hit 14 with a big six included.
Although Jonassen was dismissed for three, Erin Osbourne scored a vital 12 to boost Australia's run chase.
Sarah Coyte chipped in with nine, before Rene Farrell scored two.
However, she was run out by Green, leaving Australia to chase 10 runs from the last over, with only two wickets remaining.
One more run out left Ferling needing eight for the win but she was dismissed first ball to leave the holders agonisingly short in the opening match.
England Looking To Regain Title
After suffering final defeat to Australia in 2012, England will be looking to win the trophy for the first time since 2009.
Anya Shrubsole has been in fine form in the warm-up matches, and she took four wickets against New Zealand in the side's last game.
The 22-year-old's haul helped England ease to victory in Bangladesh, winning by eight wickets as their opponents managed just 48 runs.
Thanks to Shrubsole, as well as three wickets from Rebecca Grundy and two from Jenny Gunn, the women will go into the tournament in high spirits.
The right-arm bowler welcomed her team-mates into the fold and tweeted her excitement of getting the World T20 under way:
Time for redemption is upon is as England prepare for their first fixture of the tournament.
Taking on the West Indies on March 24, the side will be looking to build on warm-up wins over Pakistan by two wickets, as well as the victory over New Zealand.
Women's T20 international cricketer of the year, Sarah Taylor, believes it will be a four-horse race for this year's title, speaking with ECB.co.uk's Rob Barnett:
"I think you’ve got to look at the big teams like Australia. They hold it so they’re going to be difficult. New Zealand and West Indies are going to be contenders as well. It’s going to be a hard-fought tournament and there’s going to be some good games for people to watch.
"
Taylor is also pleased that the tournament will be played in front of big crowds in Sylhet, noting the impact that it could have on the women's game:
"That’s absolutely brilliant news in terms on women’s cricket. I’ve played in a few (games with big crowds) in my time and in terms of the noise it’s actually quite hard to hear people, but at the same time you get that buzz from the crowd and that energy. So I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully we can build on that energy that they give us.
"
It will be a big tournament for England, who will be looking to go one better than 2012 and pick up the title.
However, the side must be careful to not take their group lightly, after suffering an exit at this stage in 2010.
The side will also be looking for Charlotte Edwards to continue her solid work with the bat.
Confident in the top order, Edwards' abilities could be the key to any team success.
Predictions
Australia will go into the tournament as favourites, despite the first-day defeat by New Zealand.
The side will be looking to make it three titles in a row, while the West Indies search for an improved tournament after being eliminated at the semi-final stage in 2010 and 2012.
Group B will have to watch out for Stafanie Taylor, too, who hit 171 against Sri Lanka in last year's 50-over World Cup.
India also know semi-final pain, after losing out in 2009 and 2010, however, last time around they were beaten in all of their group games.
It will be a tough tournament for debutants Ireland, though, who have yet to sample the pressures of the competition.
However, like any sport, you can never bet against the underdog so beware of an upset from the Irish.
New Zealand will also be out for revenge after losing the 2009 and 2010 finals, and they are happy to cause an upset as shown by victory over Australia.
Australia's prominence will make them most likely to make the final, with England looking for 2012 revenge as they also make the last stage.
West Indies and India will once again reach the semi-finals, while Bangladesh will make home advantage count as they shock a few teams in the group stage.
However, it will be Australia who retain the title come April 6.
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