GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – West Indies women will go in search for a place in the final of the World Twenty20 Championship when they clash with New Zealand in the second semi-final of the tournament today.
With their male counterparts already ruled out of contention, the side will be carrying the burden of the region when they meet the Kiwis at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium in the 4 pm fixture.
Captain Merissa Aguilleira said the mood in the camp was upbeat and her lasses were prepared for the big match.
“We are ready. We have been preparing very well for this moment and we believe we will win and move on to Sunday’s final in Barbados,” Aguilleira said.
“We have been training together … we play together as a team. We are very strong as a team. To win, we know it will be a tough game, but we have the belief in our ability as individuals, and we have belief in each other.”
West Indies women reached the semi-finals of a major ICC tournament for the first time when they finished second in Group A of the preliminary round.
They defeated South Africa by 17 runs in their first match before toppling defending champions England by two runs in a dramatic finish to their second game.
They lost to Australia in their final game as their batting faltered and Aguilleira said this was one of several areas they needed to improve.
“We need to improve on picking up singles when we bat. We have not been picking up as many singles as we should and in T20 cricket matches are usually decided by small margins,” she said.
“We need to be attacking as well because the New Zealand girls are aggressive players. They are hard hitters and they will come at us hard so we will be prepared to stick to what we know and play what we know.”
Aguilleira said the side was aware of the responsibility which they carried especially with the men’s side already eliminated but were up to the challenge.
“A lot of thought has gone into what we are doing. We arrived in St Kitts three weeks before the tournament started and we have planned every day of this journey,” she pointed out.
“We put all the plans in place and we went out and performed in the first round. It is now up to us to continue on this journey and look to take it all the way.
“Now that the men’s team has gone out of the tournament we know we have to come out and represent the people of the West Indies in a big way. It’s a great challenge and a great opportunity.”
New Zealand announced themselves as tough opponents, playing unbeaten to top Group B at the end of the preliminary round.
They started with a 10-run win over India before crushing Sri Lanka by 47 runs in their second game. They were also emphatic in beating Pakistan by six wickets in their final game.
West Indies: Merissa Aguilleira (captain), Anisa Mohammed, Kirbyina Alexander, Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Juliana Nero, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor.
New Zealand: Aimee Watkins (captain), Amy Satterthwaite, Suzie Bates, Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Maria Fahey, Sara McGlashan, Liz Perry, Rachel Priest, Sian Ruck.
