The West Indies men's team has been a huge motivating factor for the West Indies women's team and today, the girls will be going all out to repeat what the men did against Australia and book a place in the finals of the ICC World T20 tournament in Bangladesh.
West Indies women will meet Australia in the first semi-finals at 2.30 pm and this will be followed with a men's semi-final game pitting West Indies men and Sri Lanka from 7 pm.
The girls would want to start the ball rolling for the West Indies on their day, as the world looks on at West Indies cricket. Star player Stephanie Taylor said yesterday that Darren Sammy the West Indies captain has been a huge motivator for the women's team and they would want to do him and the rest of the team proud by starting off the day with a West Indies victory.
Taylor said: "We are looking forward to leaving Sylhet and meeting up with the men's team in Dhaka. The guys are very much supportive of us, they are always congratulating us, checking up on us and being there for us, which we view as very important."
Taylor, who was once the top female cricket in the world, was high in praise of West Indies captain Darren Sammy.
"The entire West Indies men team are very inspiring very motivational to us but I must single out the West Indies captain Darren Sammy who has taken it a step further. He has shown a very keen interest in our development. Time and time again he would check on us and would speak to us, always telling us that we can do it and just keep believing in ourselves."
The West Indies will have their work cut out, as the top ranked Aussies will be looking to get past them for a chance to defend their title. The Windies preparation for the big game was not good as they went under to India in their final preliminary round match on Tuesday.
"We are never happy to lose but if there is a time to lose it was that time. We had already qualified for the semis and to lose there we can now get back to the drawing board, see where we went wrong and put things in place. We have to do it very quickly though, as the Aussies are a very powerful unit and we have to be at the top of our game to topple them.
"India really played well, we should not take anything away from them. However, while the loss should not shake our confidence, you would hope to go in the semi finals with a win. It did not happen and now is time to reflect and get things right. As I said before the Aussies are tough and hopefully we come with our top game and is able to pull it off. If we discuss certain things in our team meeting and don't execute we are not going to win, plain and simple, so the girls have to be on guard."
Taylor said so far she is really enjoying playing in Bangladesh and hopefully this would continue. "The pitches here are fantastic it was slow the last time we played in Bangladesh but now it is faster and I am loving playing here."
Taylor has so far scored 129 runs from three matches with two fifties at an average of 64.50 and a strike rate off 111.20. Also among the runs for the West Indies has been Deandra Dottin with 107 at 26.75 with a strike rate of 104.90.
Taylor has also done exceptionally well with the ball taking with five wickets at 17.40 and an economy rate of 7.25. Tremaine Smart has been the best of the lot for the Windies though with six wickets at an average of 10.50 and an economy rate of 5.32.
When the girls show at Dhaka today they can expect great support as the people of Bangladesh have shown that they are in love with West Indies cricket.
Teams
West Indies: Merissa Aguilliera (capt), Shemaine Campbelle, Deandra Dottin, Shanel Daley, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kyshona Knight, Kycia Knight, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stephanie Taylor.
Australia: Meg Lanning (capt), Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Jess Cameron, Sarah Coyte, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani and Jodie Fields.