BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Dashing West Indies Women batsman Deandra Dottin says she is eagerly looking forward to returning to Warner Park, when South Africa Women visit the Caribbean for a limited overs series next month.
The venue remains a cherished one for Dottin who two years ago as a 19-year-old, smashed an astonishing unbeaten 112 during the ICC World Twenty20 Championship.
She needed just 38 balls to reach her century which remains a world record for the fastest century by a man or woman in a T20 International.
“Warner Park has a special place in my heart. I will always remember that day, those moments when I set the record. It was also against South Africa, so now I will get the chance to play against the same team at the same ground where I played my best innings,” the 21-year-old said.
“I won’t be targeting any particular bowler or go chasing another record. I will play it as it comes and look to build an innings. For me, it’s about playing smart cricket and trying to help the West Indies win more matches. We are a good team. We want to show the world how good we are.”
West Indies face South Africa at Warner Park in St Kitts in two ODIs on January 7 and 9 before heading to Windsor Park in Dominica for the three remaining matches.
The two back-to-back T20s will be played at the Beausejour Cricket Ground under lights on January 19 and 20. Dottin is expected to be a key member of the West Indies side and says she will be using the series to start her quest to become the World number one batsman.
“I want to be number one … I know I can be the number one. But it will require lots of hard work and I know I’m fully capable of achieving this goal,” said the Barbadian who is currently ranked ninth.
“I’ve put in a month of hard work here and will look to push on. It’s a long-term goal which I have set myself.
I know I won’t suddenly ‘jump up’ and be in the number one position. What I ultimately want to do is get runs consistently for the team and lead us to more wins, in both ODIs and T20s.”
West Indies Women have been involved in a training camp over the last month as they prepare for the South Africa tour, which will be followed by the World Cup in India later. Dottin praised the camp, noting that it had served her game well and brought the team closer together.
“The camp has been great. For me, it came along at the perfect time. I was able to do a lot of work on my batting, settle down and concentrate hard on my game. I have been guilty in the past of going for some ‘big shots’, so my aim in the camp was to bat for long periods and build an innings.
I have the power when the time is right,” she explained.
“Also, to have the team together for a month – out of competition – was really good. Normally we only get together close to tours, but this time around we were able to come together as a group and share ideas and create a vision and plan for the team as we move forward to face South Africa and for the World Cup.”
