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 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, said the Ireland result disappointing, but that her team would use the experience to drive them.<\/p>\n \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. When we step out on to that field, \u00adeveryone\u2019s expecting us not to win. More of the pressure is on a team like \u00adAustralia 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 leader has been short of runs in the tournament, with a highest score of 48, against New \u00adZealand, but the prospect of a \u00adMatthews Special should give even Australia pause. Only twice have West Indies women beaten \u00adAustralia in T20 cricket: the 2016 World\u00a0Cup final<\/a> at Eden Gardens, and a bilateral game in Sydney in October 2023<\/a>. Both times it was Matthews who hit 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 \u00adquietly confident. Their selectors came under fire 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, 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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