West Indies primed as England prepare for Lord's scorcher
England and West Indies enter Wednesday's contest at Lord's full of confidence and eyeing off a first spot in the knockout semi-finals.
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Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean knows the importance of her side's ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash against the West Indies at Lord's on Wednesday.
If England can prevail over the Caribbean side they will maintain their unbeaten status at their home T20 World Cup and earn a direct place in the knockout semi-finals with one match in the group stage still remaining.
But a loss may have disastrous consequences, with England scheduled to take on reigning T20 World Cup champions New Zealand in their final group game in what could end up deciding the last spot in the knockout stages.
That's why Dean doesn't want to leave anything to chance and is keen to lock away England's place in the final four when they meet the West Indies at the Home of Cricket.
“It’s really important for us to win one more game to get us through to the semi-finals," Dean said
"That is the job at hand and what we want to do. The West Indies are an explosive side and they are notoriously good in World Cups as well. To be able to get one up on them would prove how good a place we are in as a team.”
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One thing standing in England's way on Wednesday could be the extremely hot temperatures that are scheduled in north London, with the mercury set to rise into the mid-30s in conditions that are not necessarily ideal for white-ball stars.
But Dean suggested England would not be using the expected warm weather as an excuse and believes her side is well prepared for the contest.
“It was quite warm batting with the helmet on. As cricket players, we play cricket in other countries where the weather is very similar," Dean noted.
“It’s a bit different with it being this hot at home. But we have lots of cooling methods and make sure we fuel up. It’s about being ready to get out there. It’s an evening game so might be a bit cooler.
“Our standards keeping getting better and better so being able to work hard and prove we can do it in the heat is a good opportunity but it’s not something we are particularly thinking about. We know we are able to perform under those conditions."
The West Indies enter the clash with England in excellent form, with the 2016 T20 World Cup champions holding their own unbeaten status at the tournament and also looking to cement their spot in the semis with a victory at Lord's.
Aaliyah Alleyne at Lord's on Tuesday // Getty Images
Karishma Ramharack collected a pair of wickets during the West Indies' impressive five-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in Bristol most recently and the experienced spinner believes her side is well placed to claim a second T20 World Cup title.
“There is a small chat around the changing room, it’s 10 years later and superstitiously, there is not better place to do it than Lord’s, the home of cricket. We’re looking forward to putting on a show," Ramharack noted.
“It’s coming from not just Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, players are putting their hands up. We are not expecting to go down without a fight, that is really important for us as a team.
“This is a tournament that we show up in, we’ve done it previously. Three out of three, I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t have thought we would be here today but the fact we are finding a way is really important for us.
“There is a bond that we are creating through winning.”