Confidence and self-belief are running through the White Ferns team after progressing through the group stage of the Women’s ICC World Twenty20 unbeaten.
India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were all cast aside by polished all-round performances but the White Ferns weren’t really tested in the pool play.
“I think probably more so we were challenged in our two warm up games which were against Australia and the West Indies, those two games were challenging,” said captain Aimee Watkins.
They will be hoping they can transport their exceptional form from St Kitts to St Lucia where they face hosts, the West Indies, in the semi-final on Saturday, 8:00am (NZ time).
Watkins identified 18 year-old Stafanie Taylor and 21 year-old Deandra Dottin as the major threats in the home team.
“Stephanie Taylor who opens the batting and opens the bowling with her off-spin is a good player and would line up against most of the best players in the women’s game,” she said. “Deandra Dottin scored 112 not out in the first match off 45 balls so she is pretty dangerous. Nine sixes in that, I think half of them came back down from halfway up the stand so she is definitely someone that we have to be wary off.”
Related Links
The depth of the batting line up is a key factor for the White Ferns along with two of the best spinners in world cricket and ultra-sharp fielders across the park.
Lucy Doolan and Watkins provide consistency in the middle overs and have been able to choke the opposition.
In Watkins and Suzie Bates you have a formidable opening pair and they are followed by the in-form Sara McGlashan and a string of power hitters who can find and clear the boundary without difficulty.
Watkins made special mention of Sophie Devine who made a slow start to the tournament but top scored in the last match to hint at a return to form.
“It’s good to see her strike a few boundaries and we are aware of how important she (Devine) is to us. We know and she knows she is only a couple of good hits away from getting back into that good space.”
Having made the final last year the team won’t be overawed by the big occasion and with momentum on their side they will be hard to beat come Saturday.
