By Mark Gleeson
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – England go into Friday’s Women’s Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against hosts South Africa on a high after setting a record-breaking score this week but also tempered by personal disappointment, opener Danni Wyatt said on Thursday.
Wyatt hit a brisk 59 to help England to a fast start against Pakistan at Newlands on Tuesday followed by 81 not out for Nat Sciver-Brunt as they scored 213-5 to register the highest ever women’s T20 World Cup total in a record 114-run thrashing to complete an unbeaten group phase.
“We’ve been given a licence at the top of the order to go from ball one. We’ve got the depth and the order to allow us to do that. Even if it’s going to be tricky conditions, we’re still going to keep going hard,” Wyatt told a news conference as England bid to reach the final for the fifth time in eight editions.
“Everyone’s feeling really confident and, more importantly, really chilled. This is the end bit of the tournament and it’s really important to be calm and really clever and smart about the way you’re going to go out and play.”
Wyatt’s half century came after the shock of her going unsold at the auction of players for the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India next month.
“Cricket is so up and down isn’t it, especially as an opener, it can be brutal at times. And you’ve just got to believe in yourself and just keep going, keep taking it to them,” she added.
“It was a very heartbreaking couple of days, I was very disappointed, obviously, having been a part of the WPL exhibition matches and I love playing cricket in India. But that’s life. And my focus is purely on this World Cup now. And, yeah, the sun still comes up the next day, doesn’t it?”
Holders Australia and India meet in Thursday’s opening semi-final at Newlands followed by England’s clash on Friday with the home nation. England have won their last four meetings against South Africa in women’s T20 internationals.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
