Young quick storms into the frame

Uncapped quick Tayla Vlaeminck may have bowled herself into Australia’s XI for their opening World T20 clash against Pakistan after a stunning display of pace in a warm-up game against South Africa.

The 20-year-old Melbourne Renegades right-armer picked up a wicket with her very first delivery and finished with 2-10 from her four-over spell against the Proteas in the Guyanese capital Georgetown.

While the pitch at the Providence Stadium provided little bounce – even deliveries from Proteas quick Shabnim Ismail, regarded as the world’s quickest female bowler, were at times going through to the wicketkeeper on the bounce – Vlaeminck thrived in the skiddy conditions and bowled with pace, making a strong case for inclusion in Australia’s tournament opener on Friday (Saturday morning AEDT).

“She’s been bowling really quick in the nets so it was nice to see her bowling with pace today,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said, adding the Victorian is “absolutely” in the frame for the Pakistan clash.

“She’s a weapon for us, especially on these wickets here where it’s skiddy. She’s going to be effective so it’s great to see her do well.

“She didn’t do herself any harm, that’s for sure. She came in and bowled really quick. She’s a wicket-taker and that’s what we want in our team.”

Australia were able to use almost their full squad for the unofficial practice match – left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux sat out with a minor soft tissue injury, an ailment that won’t stop her playing on Friday – but were possibly left with more selection questions than answers.

Australia already have one big call to make given star left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen is back from a knee injury and available to play on Friday. But the three-pronged spin attack of Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Ash Gardner all performed well in her absence on the recent tour of Malaysia, leaving selectors with a difficult call to make.

Pacer Nicola Carey, who sat on the sidelines during the T20I series against Pakistan, is also well suited to the local conditions and acquitted herself well on Tuesday, taking 2-12 from three overs.

“It was good (to see all the bowlers), there’s a couple who probably needed a few overs under their belt so being able to bowl a few different people was good,” Lanning said.

“If you got it right on the wickets, (the batters) really couldn’t do anything with it.

“You just had to respect it and wait for the right ball, so it’s a good learning curve for our bowling unit to make sure we’re keeping really tight lines.”

Australia have two final training sessions before they play Pakistan in their World T20 opener on Friday at 4pm local time (Saturday 7am 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 v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

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