Namibia Women vs Papua New Guinea Women, 14th Match, Group A

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2026 brings an exciting Group A encounter as Namibia Women face Papua New Guinea Women at the Mulpani Cricket Ground on January 24, 2026. Namibia Women enter this match with a slightly stronger formline, having won three of their last five T20 internationals, displaying consistent performances both with bat and ball. Their bowling attack, led by their pace spearhead, has been particularly effective in restricting opposition totals. Papua New Guinea Women, on the other hand, have faced challenges in recent times, securing only one win in their last five T20 matches. Their batting has been inconsistent, with middle-order collapses being a concern. However, their young spinner has been a shining light, providing breakthroughs regularly. Head-to-head, these teams have met only twice previously in competitive T20 matches, splitting the wins 1-1, making this encounter unpredictable. Strategically, Namibia will look to capitalize on their balanced squad, with strong opening partnerships and disciplined death bowling. Papua New Guinea will rely heavily on their spin duo to control Namibia's strokeplay and aim to build solid partnerships to set or chase a competitive total. Taking into account recent form, team composition, and venue conditions, Namibia Women hold a slight advantage entering this match.

Winning Probability - Namibia Women: 58%, Papua New Guinea Women: 42%

If Namibia Women bat first, they are likely to post a competitive total in the region of 140-150 runs. Their top order is well-equipped to exploit the powerplay without losing wickets, and the middle order can accelerate effectively in the latter overs. If Papua New Guinea Women bat first, considering their batting inconsistencies and the pitch's tendency to favor bowlers in the middle overs, a total between 130-140 runs is a fair expectation. Both teams have bowlers capable of restricting scoring rates, so the match may hinge on which side handles pressure best during the death overs.

The Mulpani Cricket Ground typically offers a balanced pitch conducive to both batsmen and bowlers. Historically, the average first-innings score at this venue in women's T20 matches hovers around 140 runs. Chasing teams have a slightly better success rate, winning approximately 55% of the time here due to predictable bounce and easy running between the wickets. Weather forecasts suggest clear skies with mild temperatures around 25°C, ideal for cricket without any interruptions. Notable performers for these teams on this ground include Namibia's Sarah Toenies, the best batsman with a top score of 68*, and Papua New Guinea's Naoani Vare, a spinner with a five-wicket haul as best bowling figures. These players have set significant records here and could influence the match outcome.

Matches Played	Namibia Wins	Papua New Guinea Wins	Draw/No Result
2	1	1	0

Team Recent Performance

Team	Matches	Wins	Losses	No Result
Namibia Women	5	3	2	0
Papua New Guinea Women	5	1	4	0

Sarah Toenies (Namibia Women): She has been in excellent touch in recent matches, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 125, and anchors Namibia's batting solidly at the top order.

Samantha-Lee Gaul (Namibia Women): A consistent medium pacer who has taken crucial wickets in the powerplay overs, maintaining a bowling average below 20.

Lucy Ovia (Papua New Guinea Women): A reliable middle-order batter, she has shown flashes of brilliance recently with a 45-run innings in the last game.

Naoani Vare (Papua New Guinea Women): Effective spinner with a knack for breaking partnerships, recently recording a five-wicket haul in international T20s.

Megan Midwinter (Papua New Guinea Women): All-rounder capable of handy contributions with both bat and ball, adding depth and flexibility to the team.