9 March - Dunedin - West Indies player Anisa Mohammed post-match press conference
Reporter: I mean, this must be a big motivation for the for the girls going forward with this win.
Anisa: Yeah definitely. To win the two games against the top teams in this tournament is definitely a motivation for us. And it kind of gives us that confidence knowing that if we can defeat the top teams then going forward once you play our best game, we can go all the way in this tournament.
Reporter: I mean, it wasn't perfect – but how is your skipper Stefanie’s handling of the whole situation?
Anisa: Yeah, I thought she did a good job. You know, we were talking quite a lot, along with Hayley as well. And I think she made the right decisions – that's a game of cricket. But you know, we have a lot of game changers on our team and it was good to see that, some of us put up our hand and take us over the line.
Reporter: My question is recently you talked about that when you started playing cricket. Your first aim was to go past Katherine Fitzpatrick’s total of cricket. You are so very close to that goal. And how does it feel to know that it will happen in the World Cup and it'll happen mostly while you're contributing to the victories for West Indies?
Anisa: Yeah, it's a good feeling to finally get close to that milestone and hopefully get past Fitzpatrick and go ahead to be the second highest ODI wicket taker – it’s something, one of the goals that I set on since I was very young, and to be so close. I'm really excited, but I'm taking it one at a time.
Reporter: This West Indies side – what is it with this West Indies that you have been the defending champion slayers. You did that in 2016 against Australia. In the T20 World Cup, you are doing here it again – against the defending champions England, what is that drive that keeps his team going to go against the bigger the best teams in world cricket?
Anisa: I think we have quite a lot of players who have been middle any ball -who have been finding some form lately. I think they have been finding form in the right time – at the World Cup – we have quite a number of game changers in our team and I think this time around - quite a lot of players believe in themselves. And as a team, we believe in each other, which is a matter of whoever goes out there - keep believing in themselves and just know that we believe in them.
Reporter: Very straightforward question. Just talk to us about that catch – Deandra Dottin’s catch. And is there anyone in the game who can do that - do what she did? And what makes her so good? Just talk to us a little bit about
Anisa: Yeah, I think I had the best seat in the house to see that. I think Deandra is one of the person - she set a very high standard for herself and in whatever aspect of the game she plays. And to see her come out and execute, I think that was a crucial moment in the game. Deandra is a game changer whether she's with bat, ball or in the field. And I think it was a spectacular catch, and I know that we would continue to get more from Deandra.
Reporter: I have a similar question - you've been brilliant in the field. how delighted are you with the team's effort in the effort on the field.?
Anisa: Yeah, it was a lot better than the last game. You know, last game we have dropped five catches today I think we had a one or two catches, but fielding is a crucial part of our game. I think that’s one thing we do together as a unit and to see us come out today and execute and put some pressure on England. I thought it was a good start for us and hopefully we can continue growing as a team.
Reporter: You have a great start of the tournament, where are you looking from now on?
Anisa: Yeah, it's really good that we can beat two of the top teams in this tournament. I know a lot of teams are counting us as underdogs, we have not been playing a lot of good ODI cricket lately, but we have nothing to lose. So just a matter of us coming out here, having fun and keep believing in each other and keep believing that we can win matches and I'm sure that we have quite a lot of teams to surprise in this tournament.
Reporter: It’s been two close wins for WI so far - be against New Zealand or now against England. It makes for great watching, we're not complaining - but I can imagine it can’t be easy on your stress levels, are you guys talking about this in the dressing room about how to make these games a little more one sided than what they are probably?
Anisa: Yeah, we have been talking about it. We know run rate is something that is going to come in as very important in this tournament. But restrict - to be able to chase and defend 225 I think was a good chase by England as well - to keep us on our toes, but it just goes to show that you know the depth we have in our bowling and the support that we have in our team, to believe in each other. Just because of that we could do anything we put our minds to.
Reporter: I just have a quick one in the end when it looked like Sophia Ecclestone and Kate Cross were just starting to take away from West Indies. What were the conversations on the field - like was it getting to you guys that okay, you know what, we might just end up letting this slip away?
Anisa: No, to be honest at no point I thought we were going to lose this game - we knew we just need to get one wicket – once we get one wicket – just keep building pressure. You know we keep saying that every dt ball counts - and once we built pressure and we get one wicket - we knew that we were going to win this game.
Reporter: In the last match we heard that story about how Deandra Dottin insisted on getting the ball to bowl the final over. What were you thinking when you were bowling the third last over? Was it a case of you wanting to get the job done and can you talk us through those two wickets at the end?
Anisa: Yeah, definitely. You know, I said to myself, I'm a game changer. I'm not going to leave it up to anyone. I just need six balls and of that six ball I just need two to be good, and to get two wickets and you know, just keep believing in myself and I had to kind of calm myself and just see one ball at a time and in the end I was able to get the job done.
Reporter: And when you completed that run out, did you know what had happened? Like is that what you had planned?
Anisa: Actually it was - I mean I just through to myself, I'm going to bowl straight and she's going to miss - she saw it, she's going to miss - I just need to go straight. And you know, once I got that wicket - it was just done from there.
Reporter: I guess unpredictable is a tag that really goes well with you guys now. My question is not about your match. Can we just talk about that picture you shared with Mithali and Jhulan on Instagram. And what was the conversation with them post that warm up game?
Anisa: I actually said to a media officer that at the end of the game, I wanted a photo with Mithali and Goswami, cause she has the most wickets in ODI and Mithali has the most runs in ODI and the highest spinner - so I just wanted to get a photo with you know, the top ranked players in the different categories in ODI.
Reporter: There was a time around 2018 and early 2019 When you weren't part of some series, you weren't an automatic selection in the 11. How did you get through that period? Were there any doubts? How did you fight back and what does it mean for you to be there right now in the big moment?
Anisa: Yeah, I know I'm a big player – every player have a rough patch. And that was just my rough patch and I knew that once I get back in, it’s a matter of staying in the 11, any player wants to stay in the 11 - and not just stay in the 11, but contribute and to be able to win matches for your team. So yes, it was difficult but I'm happy to be back and I'm happy to be contributing.
Reporter: Anyone who helped you in that
Anisa: No, there was no mentor. I think as a player. At the end of the day it comes down to you and how you cope with pressure and I think I'm a player. I talk to myself a lot. So it was just a matter of staying focused and believing in myself.