NZ no easy-beats: Molineux

Australia will come up against a New Zealand team desperate to keep their World T20 campaign alive on Tuesday and allrounder Sophie Molineux says nothing will be taken for granted despite recently whitewashing their trans-Tasman rivals.

New Zealand boast the world’s top-ranked T20I batter in Suzie Bates, a big-hitting powerhouse in Sophie Devine and one of the world’s fastest bowlers in Lea Tahuhu – not to mention a bevy of spinners well-suited to the conditions at Guyana’s Providence Stadium.

It’ll be a sterner test than what the Australians have faced so far in seventh-ranked Pakistan and tenth-ranked Ireland, but with a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals on offer, Molineux says her team is up for the challenge.

“In a tournament like this, every game is going to be a challenge but both New Zealand and India have got really good teams with dominant world-class players, so we’ll have to be on the ball and continue to get better each game,” Molineux said.

Australia defeated the White Ferns comfortably in all three of their matches on home soil in September and October, but Molineux is expecting a different threat in foreign conditions.

“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” she said. “We played them in Australia not too long ago in home conditions but we have to take these conditions into account.

“They’ve got some strong players as well so we have to be on our game.”

Veteran Bates, who captains Adelaide Strikers in the Rebel WBBL, has scored 576 runs at 57.6from 13 T20I innings this year.

She struck a 50-ball 67 as the White Ferns went down to India by 34 runs in their opening match of the tournament on Friday – a result that means New Zealand can ill afford a second defeat in the race for the semi-finals – and will be a key player on Tuesday.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Molineux has made herself a fixture with the ball during the Power Play across the past two months and is relishing the idea of another encounter with opener Bates.

“Having only two (fielders) out means you have to be right on the ball from the start,” she said.

“It’s quite ruthless, the Power Play, I’ve learnt.

“I’ve underestimated how hard it is and having the opportunity to bowl against the likes of her and Devine in Australia, I really learnt I have to be right on from the start.

“Suzie’s been in great form and that doesn’t change either, so hopefully it goes our way tomorrow but she’s definitely in some good form and quite a dangerous player.”

Molineux is also very familiar with Tahuhu, her teammate at Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL.

“I think any surface Lea bowls on, she’s going to have a bit of pace and bounce,” she said.

“Midge (Alyssa Healy) has been playing beautifully up the top and Beth Mooney’s doing really well up there with her, so hopefully we negate her pace and get through her Power Play and score a few off her.

“She certainly does charge in and hit a good length so that’ll be a nice match up at the top there.”

Australia’s clash with New Zealand begins at 8pm local time Tuesday (11am Wednesday AEDT).

Fox Sports will broadcast every match of the Women’s World T20, while the Nine Network will televise Australia’s matches.

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia beat Pakistan by 52 runs

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground