We’ll handle heat says Knight
HEATHER KNIGHT believes England can handle the big occasion when they face India in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final on Friday.
England finished second in Group A after a four-wicket defeat by hosts West Indies, who will take on Group B runners-up Australia.
Shemaine Campbelle’s 45 from 42 balls guided the West Indies towards victory after Deandra Dottin’s 52-ball 46 set up their successful chase of 116.
“We lost the game with the bat, we lost a few too many easy dismissals and just didn’t have enough on the board,” said skipper Knight. “The character we showed was immense but there’s a few things we need to sharpen up on before the semis.
“I didn’t really mind who we played, but we’ve got a really good record against India and we know we can handle the big occasion.”
West Indies, the defending champions, got off to a superb start by dismissing Danni Wyatt in the opening over and kept up the pressure on England. Amy Jones and Nat Sciver fell cheaply, before Tammy Beaumont, Knight and Lauren Winfield departed in quick succession. A half-century stand between Sophia Dunkley (35), and Anya Shrubsole (29), helped England post a total of 115-8. And Shrubsole set about making early inroads by taking two wickets in her first over, making it five wickets in seven balls after her hat-trick to finish the previous game against South Africa. West Indies batted themselves into a position of strength as a 68-run stand between Dottin, who also took two wickets, and Campbelle took their total to 71-3. Dottin and Natasha McLean went, but Campbelle upped the rate before being brilliantly caught by Wyatt in the final over off Shrubsole. Kycia Knight then struck the winning runs.
Dottin, named player of the match, said: “The bowling’s giving me most pleasure. I’m sticking to the basics.
“With the bat, after losing two quick wickets, I knew I had to stay in the game and hang around for the team. I knew which way the breeze was coming, so I tried to be smart and knock it around at one end and hit at the other.”