Coach Deitz: Windies Women can scare teams in T20 World Cup

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WEST Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz said if his players can perform at a high level for extended periods, they could have a strong showing at the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup.

West Indies will open their campaign against South Africa on October 4 at 6pm TT time at the 7he Sevens Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

West Indies, winners of the 2016 edition, lost their warm-up games to India and Australia, both favorites to win the title later this month.

A positive sign for West Indies is that all-rounders Qiana Joseph and Chinelle Henry showed form with the bat despite losing both practice matches.

On October 1, Joseph smashed 36 in his first bat against Australia and on September 29, Henry hit 59 against India.

“It was great preparation for the World Cup. We played two good games against two of the best teams in the world and in both games we were at the top in certain phases,” said Deitz.

He said his players need to play better over time to beat the best in the world. “We experienced a lot of positive things…probably more positive than negative because the results in the training games are not the be-all and end-all. What we want is for us to play good cricket, and we’re playing good cricket, just not for long enough. “Once we can do that for longer, we’ll have a chance to have a few scares in this World Cup.”

Looking ahead to the South Africa game, Deitz said: “We are going into the game with a positive attitude, very clear about how we want to play the game, very clear about our plans, our positions on the field and our strategies towards it certain players. That’s what we have to do because we can control that and then we have to execute longer and if we can do that we will be a dangerous team.”

Hayley Matthews, the Windies captain, has been one of the most dominant cricketers in the women’s game over the last two years and how far the West Indies progress in the campaign could depend on her.

The batting duo of Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor are also players to keep an eye on with their skills. Dottin because of her destructive nature and Taylor’s ability to time the ball.

Taylor and Dottin have serious injuries. Dottin played in the second warm-up game, but Taylor did not play in any.

In the bowling department, spinners Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Qiana Joseph and Matthews as well as fast and medium pacers Aaliyah Alleyne, Henry and Shamilia Connell will lead the way.

The Windies coach hopes that most of his players will be fit in time. If not, plans will be adjusted. “They’re all coming back from little aches and pains that they’ve picked up, which is unfortunate, but that’s cricket, it’s going to happen at every World Cup. We’ll have a Plan B and a Plan C ready… we’ll all want the best players in the world to play, but if not, other girls will step in to take the burden off of them and take on that responsibility.”

Squad:

West Indies: Hayley Matthews (captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain, week), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (Capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (Week), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon.