OS vs NBW Match Preview
This game will be played on Wednesday New Zealand time. Both these teams are going into this match with a loss in their opening encounter of the season. They will be keen to provide a strong performance in this match and move on from there. Otago Sparks are currently lying in 5th position after having lost their opening battle against Wellington Blaze. The Northern Brave was also met with a loss in their opening encounter and will be looking to get back to their winning ways in this game. The Northern Brave women are lying in 4th position in the points tally due to a better net run rate.
Both these teams will be keen to begin their season on a better note with this match. But if you take a close look at the composition of the two sides you will find that Otago Sparks women hold the upper hand in the contest. They are the finalist in the competition from last year and have won all the last 5 matches played against the Northern Brave outfit.
Weather Report
We are likely to get warm and partially sunny conditions during the game. You can expect temperatures of close to 28 degrees during the match. We might get winds in the region of 7 km/hr for this match and there is a 30% chance of having cloud cover during the game. We will get clear visibility during the match and a relative humidity of 63% is expected. If we do get some cloud cover, the conditions are likely to assist the faster bowlers.
Pitch Report
The pitch will remain in favor of the batters throughout the match except during the initial overs. The bowlers will have to bowl a tight length to get assistance from the track and contain the batters. The John Davie Oval ground in Queenstown is one of the more scenic grounds in the world. This ground was used for practice games played between New Zealand and teams visiting the country. There will be some breeze blowing across the ground and the wicket always has a bit of grass on it to help the speedsters. Both the games played here in the last season were won by the teams chasing a target. The average first-inning total there is 148 runs.
Notable stats
The Northern Brave women's team has an atrocious record in recent matches.
The Northern Brave women's team has lost all their last 5 matches played in the competition. This is in contrast to their opponents in this game who have won 3 out of their last 5 matches.
Otago Sparks leads the head-to-head between the two sides in their last 5 games.
If you take a look at the head-to-head between the two teams in the recent past, Otago Sparks women have won all their last 5 encounters.
Team News
Full sides will be available for selection for this game as this is just the start of the season and there are no major injury worries reported from either team's management.
OS vs NBW Probable 11
OS Playing 11
- Polly Inglis (Wk)
- Caitlin Blakely
- Bella James
- Felicity Leydon-Davis
- Suzie Bates (C)
- Kate Ebrahim
- Hayley Jensen
- Emma Black
- Sophie Oldershaw
- Olivia Gain
- Eden Carson
NBW Playing 11
- Holly Topp (Wk)
- Katie Gurrey
- Lucy Boucher
- Eimear Richardson (C)
- Kate Anderson
- Nensi Patel
- Sam Barriball
- Kayley Knight
- Shriya Naidu
- Tash Wakelin
- Bernadine Bezuidenhout
Dream11 Prediction
Both these teams are off to a poor start in the competition losing their first games. You can expect the Otago Sparks women to be a slight favorite for this match as they have more in-form players in their ranks. We will bet with Otago Sparks women to win this match and earn their first points for the season.
Top Picks
Suzie Bates: Suzie Bates has returned to the Otago Sparks team and she will hold the key to the performance of Otago Sparks in the competition. She did get off to a start in the first match but failed to convert it into a big score. She picked up a wicket as well.
Kate Ebrahim: Another experienced all-rounder playing in this game is Kate Ebrahim. She did play a cameo in the last match but it did not help her team secure a win in the match against Wellington. She will be hoping for an even better show in this game.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout: She scored a big half-century against the Otago Sparks outfit in the recently concluded HBJ Shield competition. She will be eyeing this bowling attack in this match as well.
Hayley Jensen: Hayley Jensen will make a return to the Otago Sparks side after missing the last match. She will be opening the Sparks bowling attack and can bowl in the death overs as well for the home team.
OS vs NBW Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: P. Inglis
Batters: S. Bates (C), B. Bezuidenhout, C. Gurrey, S. Barriball
All-rounders: K. Ebrahim (VC), L. Boucher
Bowlers: H. Jensen, E. Black, E. Carson, A. Wellington
