Hayley Matthews is the first to admit that she has not yet fired at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 but Australia are only too aware of her threat ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final.
While Australia, ranked number one in the world, enjoyed an imperious time of it in the groups, completing a fourth win from four with a record ICC Women’s T20 World Cup chase to beat India at Lord’s on Sunday, the Windies’ path to The Oval was rather more complicated.
After winning their first three matches, the world's seventh ranked side fell to defeats to England and then Ireland in Bristol, the latter loss leaving them relying on New Zealand to lose their final game.
Thankfully for Matthews and her team, the hosts pulled off a brilliant chase of their own against the White Ferns, allowing the Windies to progress.
The West Indian skipper is keen to make the most of that reprieve and produce a significant knock, having scored just 115 in five innings so far, while relying on some more under-the-radar teammates to step up in the group stages.