Windies women feel confident
Vinode Mamchan
Published: Guardian
Thursday, March 31, 2016
While the men’s team go into their semi-final clash of the ICC World T20 against hosts India as underdogs, the West Indies women will tackle New Zealand five hours earlier in their semifinal matchup of the Women’s World T20 equivalent in the same situation, but full of confidence.
The Caribbean women book their place in the semis by finishing second in their group, while the Kiwis topped the category. However, the West Indies within recent years have enjoyed good results against them, barring a T20 series in New Zealand where they lost.
Yesterday, the West Indies women did their final touch up before today’s 2.30 pm clash and all is reported well within the camp.
The Caribbean women believe that the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium will work in their favour and they are looking forward to playing on a strip that will aid their stroke play.
West Indies captain and star player Stephanie Taylor has expressed much confidence, she said: “I think Twitter and Facebook is actually blowing up. To know that both of us are in the semis, everybody is just behind us 100 per cent and giving us good feedback. It is going to be a mental thing tomorrow. Seventy-five per cent of the game is actually played there and I think, on that day, who is calmer and more composed will win. If we try to do that, we definitely can pull this off.â€
New Zealand’s bowlers have adapted to the Indian conditions the best. A battery of spinners, led by Leigh Kasperek and Morna Nielsen have weaved a web around batting units, giving a power-packed top order sub-par totals to gun down. West Indies, on the other hand, have had to make do with their plethora of medium-pacers, who have mastered the art of bowling cutters on pitches where the batsmen have had to force the pace.
One crucial factor today will be the fitness of the players, as it is very humid in Mumbai and they will be playing in the afternoon heat. This could work for the West Indies who have played a lot in sweltering conditions. The toss should prove no big deal, as this pitch is expected to stand up well and dew later in the evening will not be a factor.
Teams
West Indies — Stafanie Taylor (capt), Hayley Matthews, Kyshona Knight,4 Shaquana Quintyne, Deandra Dottin, Stacy-Ann King, Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Merissa Aguilleira, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher and Anisa Mohammed.
New Zealand — Suzie Bates (capt), Rachel Priest, Sophie Devine, Sara McGlashan, Amy Satterthwaite, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Leigh Kasperek, Erin Bermingham, Lea Tahuhu and Morna Nielsen.
