Toss Australia chose to bowl vs Pakistan
Australia bolstered their spin resources in the XI, adding a second wristspinner in Amanda-Jade Wellington, as they opted to bowl on the used Bay Oval surface against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui. In inserting Pakistan, they unsurprisingly reduced the threat of Pakistan spinners replicating their success from the India fixture two days ago where the opposition initially struggled to put on a sizeable score.
Nicola Carey, the pace-bowling allrounder was the second change Australia rung in, with Darcie Brown and Tahlia McGrath sitting out. For Pakistan, Nahida Khan came in for Javeria Khan, who was out through injury, captain Bismah Maroof said.
This is the third match on the same strip, and both Maroof and Australia captain Meg Lanning expected spin to play a major role on the day, celebrated as International Women's Day around the world. It's a special one especially for Australia who celebrate the second anniversary of their historic 2020 T20 World Cup win on home soil.
Though Australia have never lost an ODI against Pakistan, who haven't won a match in 15 straight appearances in 50-over World Cup fixtures, Lanning was hopeful of being "more clinical in the field". In their opening game, against England, let-offs had added to the close finish of the high-scoring face-off, where Australia eventually prevailed defending 310. She said the surface still appeared to be conducive to run-scoring.
Australia: 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Rachael Haynes, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Beth Mooney, 6 Annabel Sutherland, 7 Nicola Carey, 8 Jess Jonassen, 9 Alana King, 10 Amanda-Jade Wellington, 11 Megan Schutt
Pakistan: 1 Sidra Ameen, 2 Nahida Khan, 3 Bismah Maroof (capt), 4 Omaima Sohail, 5 Nida Dar, 6 Aliya Riaz, 7 Fatima Sana, 8 Sidra Nawaz (wk), 9 Diana Baig, 10 Nashra Sandhu, 11 Anam Amin
Annesha Ghosh is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @ghosh_annesha
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
