Dubai: The last semi-finalists will be decided at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday when unbeaten England do battle with the West Indies.
While England currently sit pretty at the top of Group B, a loss here could see Heather Knight’s side drop to second place in the pool or even miss out on the knockout stages completely.
It’s come down to this, with the final game of the group stage to determine the last semi-final spot and the match-ups for the knockout stages.
England are in the box seat to feature in the semis, but need a victory over the West Indies to guarantee their place in the final four.
The stakes are high, as the West Indies too need a win in this clash if they are to sneak into the knockout stages.
A narrow triumph for the West Indies could see both them and England qualify and put an end to the tournament for South Africa following their second-placed finish at the event last year, an ICC report said.
While England will deservedly go in favourites to keep their unbeaten status intact and defeat the West Indies, the Caribbean side are a dangerous outfit with plenty of match-winners at their disposal.
Skipper Hayley Matthews showed some good signs with the bat when contributing a quickfire 34 against Bangladesh last start, while the West Indies will be hoping former captain Stafanie Taylor has shaken off her knee concern and is fit for the crucial contest.
It will be a battle between England’s spin-heavy bowling attack and the West Indies’ powerful batting line-up and there should be plenty of fireworks in this clash.
England opener Maia Bouchier said, “We talked a lot about what’s in the present and focusing on each game and no matter what comes up we’ll be focusing on what’s happening then. I think we could think about who we’re going to play and what’s going to happen, but I think that’s going against our thought processes and going into the next, whatever it could be, whoever we play, we’re just looking to play on the day.”
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said, “The girls have done a great job of just being able to bounce back and really have that attitude and that fight within them. We’re obviously going to try to take that into the next match against England. We know how crucial that is and how big of a match it is but we want to try to have the same attitude even against better teams as well.”
Squads:
England: Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath
West Indies: Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vc, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton.
