India Women and Pakistan Women will face each other in the second match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024. This match will be held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Friday (July 19).

India will enter the match following a decent series against South Africa and is expected to put up a strong performance. They are the defending champions and have historically been dominant in the Asia Cup. Pakistan have had a challenging time in the T20 format, losing their last four games. However, they will look to turn things around in this high-stakes encounter against their arch-rivals.

Key players to watch:

India Women:

• Smriti Mandhana: A consistent performer and a key player at the top of the order.
• Harmanpreet Kaur: The captain, known for her powerful hitting and leadership skills.
• Asha Sobhana: A crafty spinner who can exploit the conditions in Dambulla.

Pakistan Women:

• Aliya Riaz: The experienced and attacking batter who will be crucial in stabilizing the batting order.
• Nida Dar: An all-rounder who can contribute significantly with both bat and ball.
• Diana Baig: A pace bowler who might benefit from the expected movement due to cloud cover.

Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Here are the complete squads of all 8 teams

Dambulla Weather Report:

The second Women’s Asia Cup 2024 encounter between India and Pakistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium promises to proceed under clear skies, providing ideal conditions for a thrilling match. Unlike the uncertainty often brought by rain, no precipitation is anticipated, allowing uninterrupted play. The temperature is forecasted to peak at a warm 33 degrees Celsius, ensuring a hot day that could test the endurance of the players.

With humidity levels hovering around 66%, the atmosphere will be quite muggy, potentially affecting stamina and grip, especially as the game progresses. Moreover, the wind is expected to blow at a steady speed of approximately 29 kmph. This breeze can be a crucial factor, particularly for the fast bowlers who might exploit the conditions to generate some swing and movement off the pitch.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.