Tough format, eh? England are top of Group B at the T20 World Cup, having won three games out of three with increasing authority, but they still have no margin for error. If they lose to West Indies in Dubai this afternoon they will – just like that! – be on their way home.
Okay, that isn’t strictly true. The net run-rate permutations are such that England can afford the narrowest of defeats, but we’re talking literally a couple of runs or balls. We’ll cross that bridge if we get anywhere near it.
The strong likelihood is that it’s winner takes all. And though West Indies are dangerous opponents, and the remarkable Hayley Matthews is due a performance, we should be wary of scaremongering. England have won the last 13 completed T20 internationals between the sides and West Indies were thrashed by 10 wickets when they came up against South Africa in their opening game.
They responded by marmalising both Scotland and Bangladesh, which is why they will go above England on run-rate if they win today. And although South Africa’s NRR is currently the worst of the three contenders, the complexities of this particular brain-melting tiebreaker mean they are 99.94 per cent sure to reach the semi-finals.
England are determined to focus on the process, not the result. “We sometimes get a bit ahead of ourselves,” said Sophie Ecclestone. “It’s important to stay in the moment, staying present and we know that we’ve got a big game against the West Indies. A massive [way of staying in the present] personally is that I just enjoy myself. You never know when your last game for England is going to be, as brutal as that is.”
If England win they will meet New Zealand in the second semi-final on Friday. The alternative is unthinkable.
The match starts at 3pm in London, 6pm in Dubai.
Source: telegraph.co.uk