By contrast, West Indies\u2019 path to the semi-final has been far from smooth. On Saturday, the squad experienced the full gamut of emotions when they lost against Ireland \u2013 a team who had never before won a match in a T20 World Cup \u2013 and then had to wait nervously for the England v New Zealand result<\/a> to find out if they had qualified.<\/p>\n Matthews, the West Indies captain, labelled the Ireland result \u201cdisappointing\u201d but said her team would use the experience to drive them. \u201cThere is an added fire to us when people think we can\u2019t get the job done,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have nothing to lose, and that puts us in a position where we can be quite fearless going out there.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we step out on to that field, everyone\u2019s expecting us not to win. More of the pressure is on a team like Australia who are going to be expected to beat us, and if they don\u2019t, it\u2019ll probably be a massive disappointment for them. That eases a bit of the pressure off of our shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n West Indies\u2019 talismanic leader has been short of runs this tournament, with a highest score of 48 against New Zealand, but the prospect of a Matthews Special should give even Australia pause. Only twice in history have West Indies beaten Australia in T20 women\u2019s cricket: the 2016 World Cup final<\/a> at Eden Gardens, and a bilateral match in Sydney in October 2023<\/a>. On both occasions it was Matthews who recorded the winning knock, scoring a spectacular 132 on the latter occasion.<\/p>\n The only time West Indies have beaten Australia at a major women\u2019s tournament was to win the 2016 T20 World Cup final. Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Australia will be quietly confident. The Australian selectors came under fire earlier in the year when they named Sophie Molineux as their new captain, given her track record of injury<\/a>. But she seems to have brought fresh energy to the group. It is notable that each of Australia\u2019s top five have contributed at least one half-century this tournament, showcasing their surfeit of match-winners.<\/p>\n Ellyse Perry, who scored 56 against India on Sunday, said: \u201cSoph brings a very unique style. She\u2019s such a people person. She makes everyone laugh. She knows when to have fun, when to be serious.<\/p>\n
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