New Zealand's women cricketers have already outperformed their male counterparts - now they want to go another step further at the women's T20 cricket world championship in the West Indies.
While the men are licking their wounds after being knocked out in the Super Eight stages, the White Ferns are
bristling with confidence heading into their semifinal against a dangerous West Indies team at Gros Islet, St Lucia, on Saturday morning.
They have every reason to be upbeat after convincing wins over India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the pool phase but expect the West Indies to provide formidable opposition in front of their home crowd.
Captain Aimee Watkins and her side are braced for a raucous welcome from the crowd and potential fireworks from the West Indies batsmen, particularly teenager Deandra Dottin.
Dottin, 18, rewrote the record books last week when she became the first woman to hit a T20 international century.
It was no ordinary century either, as Dottin slammed 112 not out against South Africa off just 45 balls at St Kitts.
Watkins identified Dottin and opener Stafanie Taylor as players demanding particularly close attention.
She said her bowlers would try to restrict the free flowing hosts by taking the pace off the ball as much as possible.
"They're a dangerous team. They have some big hitters and they're a team who can score 180 one day then the next day be all out for 80," Watkins said.
"They're particularly dangerous with the bat and it's important we don't let them get away from us."
Watkins certainly expects a step up in intensity from the group stage where New Zealand beat India by 10 runs, Sri Lanka by 47 runs and Pakistan by six wickets.
"Coming through pool play we weren't really challenged, but one good thing is that we have some winning momentum.
"We're expecting a large crowd and for it to be very noisy. We are not used to playing in front of large, loud crowds and we've been talking about how we cope with that."
Australia meet India at Gros Islet tomorrow.
NZ v WEST INDIES
New Zealand: Aimee Watkins (captain), Amy Sattherthwaite, Suzie Bates, Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Maria Fahey, Sara McGlashan, Liz Perry, Rachel Priest, Sian Ruck.
West Indies: Merissa Aguilleira (captain), Kirbyina Alexander, Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Juliana Nero, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor.
- NZPA
New Zealand's women cricketers have already outperformed their male counterparts - now they want to go another step further at the women's T20 cricket world championship in the West Indies.
While the men are licking their wounds after being knocked out in the Super Eight stages, the White Ferns are
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