West Indies back fearless approach ahead of Australia semi-final

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews believes the regional side will need to be at its best to secure an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final berth when  they face Australia on Tuesday at The Oval, in England.

Australia have played unbeaten thus far in the competition, whereas West Indies lost their last two games, after opening the competition with three consecutive wins.

“To beat a team like Australia, you still need more than one player, and we’re going to have to have our best players really stepping up to the plate tomorrow,” Matthews said.

Australia’s record against the West Indies is exceptional, with the regional side winning just twice in the format.

On both occasions, however, Matthews was named player of the match. In her last six innings against the Aussies, the West Indies skipper also averages 101.75.

Additionally, she was named player of the match in the 2016 final, when her innings of 66 saw West Indies clinch the title. West Indies have also advanced to the semis on six occasions.

Matthews explained that entering the match as underdogs should allow her side to play fearless cricket.

“As a team we are really proud of the way we have played so far, but we have not been at our best, which gives us a lot of confidence that we can still improve,” she added.

During her pre match media briefing, Australian veteran Ellyse Perry was confident her side has what it takes to advance to another final, but warned against taking the threat posed by West Indies lightly.

“They’ve got some tremendously talented and dangerous players with a lot of experience. So it will be a great challenge for us. It’s a quick turnaround too at a different venue, so I think we’re really looking forward to it,” said Perry.

Her Australian counterpart Ash Gardener is also wary of complacency against a dangerous West Indies side.

“A lot of experience, obviously led brilliantly by Hayley Matthews, who is a player that can take away a game pretty quickly. But then you look at someone like Deandra Dottin, she’s a threat in all three phases of the game.

“She’s a fantastic player. I’ve had the privilege of playing with her, and seeing how she goes about her cricket, she’s so fearless in the way that she approaches it, which sometimes can be quite scary because she can flick a switch pretty quickly.”  

(KH/ICC MEDIA)