'Great to be locked into that semifinal position' – Megan Schutt

Australia, three-time champions of the ICC Women's World T20, have not put one wrong step in the 2018 edition so far, winning all three games – against Pakistan, Ireland and now New Zealand – rather comfortably.

The team has come together well and performers have come from all quarters. Australia are naturally thrilled about being the first team to lock down a semi-final berth, but there's not going to be a let up in intensity when they face off with India in the final group stage game.

"It's great," said Schutt after the match against New Zealand. "It's the classic case of bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. I think it's great to be locked into that semifinal position, but obviously we won't be taking the next game lightly."

After Alyssa Healy's 38-ball 53 – her second fifty in as many games – Australia were able to put up 153/7 on the board despite being kept relatively quiet in the middle overs. New Zealand made a good fist of the chase, but were bowled out for 120 in 17.3 overs, Schutt engineering their downfall with wickets of Anna Patterson, Leigh Kasperek and Hannah Rowe in a spell of 3/12 from three overs even though she started with five wides down leg.

Her performance rejuvenated her after she had, by her high standards, a modest outing against Ireland, in which she took 1/30 in four overs. "Bad day (against Ireland)... Yeah, much better (against New Zealand). Look, after the five wides at the start I was a little bit worried it could have been a bad day again. But, yeah, two bad games in a row would have been absolutely horrible for me. So, nice to bounce back."

Schutt's been one of Australia's top-performers in their campaign so far, excelling in the games against Pakistan and New Zealand while doing alright against Ireland too. Her consistency has been matched, or even bettered, by Healy, who has scores of 48, 56* and 53!

"I've been on the receiving end of it a few times in Big Bash, but to see it so consistently out here at an Australian level is really pleasing," I know she's bloody worked hard in the offseason. We had a chance to be in our home states and actually have a preseason. And she's showing how much that actually helps to just kind of take some time and really work hard and come out and play that kind of cricket."

With three wins in a row, Australia have earned the right to breathe a little easy ahead of the big clash against India, and will allow them to play with more freedom. The players are looking forward to the three day break before they are out on the field again.

"I guess it's a breath of fresh air (to face India without pressure of qualifying). I think it just gives us freedom to go out and play the kind of cricket we want to and that we really want to go into the finals producing, really."

The break will help Australia refresh their batteries ahead of the knockout games too. "I think a break in a tournament like this is always kind of crucial to rest the brain from cricket, really. And I think we're really good at doing that now, really being aware of when we need to take time off. So it couldn't have come at a better time."