UNITED States Of America Women’s cricket team is looking at bringing their A-game and causing an upset when they face tournament hosts, Zimbabwe, in their second match at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
The USA team, which lost heavily to Bangladesh by 269 runs on Tuesday, will want to put that disappointment behind them when they take on Zimbabwe, who are also looking for their first tournament victory after being stunned by Thailand in their first match.
It is always challenging to play the hosts in their conditions especially coming from a heavy defeat, but in coach Julia Price, the former Australia wicket-keeper, they have a winner within their ranks who can rally her troops and motivate them to do better.
Price, who also coached in the Australia Big Bash League and was appointed USA coach in 2019 is already plotting how to beat Zimbabwe and put their first points on the board.
“We’ve really sat down after our game against Bangladesh yesterday (Tuesday) and looked at both the good and the bad of our game. From the outside, it may appear bad, but there were plenty of learnings from playing a team of the standard of Bangladesh,” Price told EnterSportNews.
“In doing that, we’ve got clearer plans going into the Zimbabwe game with both bat and ball. Zimbabwe have got a good team, but we feel on our day we can match them.”
Price feels that the emotion that came with playing their first ODI may have affected the team, but now that It has finally sunk in that USA is indeed the 21st nation to play an ODI, they are ready for the Zimbabwe challenge.
“Our plans needed to be clearer but mainly just execution. It was the first ODI for the team, so there was plenty of emotion running around, which is forgivable,” she said.
“Some good strategies have been put in place to keep the team on track and having good clarity around the game plan.”
Whilst the USA bowling chased leather for most of the match, Moksha Chaudhary was the pick of their bowlers. However, left-arm seamer Tara Norris impressed all and sundry, probably bowled better than her figures suggest and were unlucky not to pick a wicket. Norris is key if the USA entertain any hopes of upsetting Zimbabwe.
With the weather expected to remain overcast throughout the day, she will be a handful and difficult to play in those conditions if Norris finds her rhythm.
Speaking to Entersportnews before the match, Norris said she would want to give her batters something chaseable.
“We were not clinical and consistent enough against Bangladesh. The margin of error is small in this competition. The better teams will take advantage of that,” said the left-arm seamer.
“This a much bigger step up for us. Any score over 300 will be challenging for any team, especially a team that has played very limited 50 over cricket. 250 is more realistic to chase and achievable.”
Norris, a native of Philadelphia, who took part in the inaugural tournament of the 100 in England playing for the Southern Brave, said she is enjoying bowling in the Zimbabwe conditions where she has been swinging the ball with relative ease.
“Being left-handed, my natural angle is across the bat, so if it does swing in, that’s a bonus. But that comes with working with a variety of coaches, and weather conditions here were a little bit overcast that helped,” Norris said.
The 23-year-old top-scored for her team against Bangladesh, and she wants to score big before the tournament ends and is hoping it will be against Zimbabwe today.
“I really enjoyed batting against Bangladesh, but unfortunately, I didn’t bat long enough to make too much of an impact,” she said.
“I see my role in the USA side like that of an all-rounder, being able to contribute with both bat and ball. It will be amazing to get a big score this week.”
As battle lines have been drawn speaking to Price, who won two World Cup medals with Australia, you get a sense that this group is full of youngsters, using this tournament as part of a learning curve as they transition from T20 to 50 overs cricket.
“The USA team has primarily been a T20 team in the last few years, so it’s been a big step up to be able to play against and learn from some of the best Women’s nations and be inspired to continue to learn the nuances of cricket in all formats,” added Price.
“The importance of execution, appropriate fields, time restrictions, patience and discipline as well as the demands of being on the road and managing life.
“There will be some tough lessons, but they won’t outweigh the amazing moments for this great group of girls who are driving the future of cricket in the USA.”
Outside the tournament, it hasn’t been all work and no play. The North Americans have been enjoying the African Safari and Zimbabwe’s hospitality.
“We managed to get out to a safari last week, which was a huge thrill for the girls. Being able to travel at this time is such a privilege and also so exciting to experience the true Zimbabwe first-hand,” she said.
“The girls have also been practising their Shona at each meal and loving the friendliness and openness of everyone they are meeting, making the trip even more memorable.”
