WT20 a clean slate for trans-Tasman rivals

Fast bowler Megan Schutt says the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have put their T20 series loss to New Zealand behind them as they prepare for their crucial World T20 showdown in Nagpur tonight (Monday).

The White Ferns claimed a 2-1 series win at home to Australia earlier this month, but Schutt said the subcontinent conditions and the added pressure of the World T20 tournament would make the match a whole new contest.

"It's always a good rivalry against New Zealand and to play them in a World T20 is the next level up as well," Schutt said on Sunday.

"I think we took (the series in New Zealand) as really good game practice and we know how each other play.

"But this is in different conditions so it’s a whole new start and a whole new tournament now.

"There's also more pressure on everyone, which always brings out the best in us I think."

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Captain Meg Lanning was a noticeable absentee from Sunday's training session as she continues to recover from a nasty bout of gastro, but the world's No.1 batter is expected to be fully fit in time for the Group A blockbuster.

Off-spinner Erin Osborne, who is nursing a split webbing injury, didn't bowl at training but will also be fit to play.

The White Ferns are sitting pretty on top of Group A, with two emphatic wins over Sri Lanka and Ireland already under their belts. They also boast a very healthy net run rate of 3.187, making a win on Monday crucial for the Southern Stars to win if they hope to finish on top of their group.

The Southern Stars know they can't afford any lapses against their trans-Tasman rivals, with their captain Suzie Bates in a rich vein of form, underlined by her 82 from 60 deliveries against Ireland.

"Bates has been in in pretty good form and she always plays pretty well against us," Schutt said.

"But we've got our players we attack individually and we've all got our own plans."

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Allrounder Sophie Devine has also been on song, showing no signs of the quadriceps injury that hampered her series against Australia when she scored a 34-ball 47 against Ireland on Friday, while the White Ferns also boast three dangerous spin options in left-armer Morna Nielsen, leg-spinner Erin Bermingham and off-spinner Leigh Kasperek, who have already proved effective on Indian decks.

One other factor heading into the match is the pitch at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

The one used by the Southern Stars on Friday kept low and slow and offered some assistance to the pace bowlers, unlike the one used in the men's match between India and New Zealand, which provided sharp turn.

Either way, batting is expected to be tough, with Schutt predicting it would be especially difficult for the team chasing.

"On a pitch like we will be playing on tomorrow, I think 130 to 140 would be a good score to defend," she added.

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Given New Zealand’s recent record against the Southern Stars, it would be easy to argue they head in as the favourites, but Bates was quick to shrug the tag on Sunday.

"One of the outside people are saying we're favourites, but we’re treating each game here like a knock out and we haven’t treated this game any differently to any other game.

"Any team on their day can beat any side. That said, we’ve played Australia a lot and we’re comfortable with our plans against them and I’m sure they feel the same way about us."