Charlotte Edwards says England head into the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with confidence sky high and a belief they can win from any position after hammering New Zealand.
England were already guaranteed top spot in their group but made an emphatic statement ahead of the next week’s knockout with a fifth win from five matches, thrashing the 2024 champions by nine wickets.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued her excellent form with 89 not out, anchoring a pursuit of 164 as England equalled the highest successful run chase in the tournament’s history, on a sultry night at the Oval.
Edwards is therefore adamant England are full of optimism irrespective of who they will face in the semis, likely either India or South Africa on Tuesday afternoon or Thursday evening in Kennington.
The head coach, who captained England to their only T20 World Cup title in 2009, told the BBC’s Test Match Special: “They are feeling we can win from anywhere. We are quietly confident and looking forward to a big next week.
“We know now with the teams we are likely to play in the semi-finals, one are world champions of the ODIs (India) and one have played in every World Cup final for the last three years (South Africa).
“It is not going to be easy but we are going in with the most confidence we have ever done into a semi-final and with a lot of belief.
“We are one game away from a Lord’s final which has always been the goal. That is really exciting.”
Wyatt-Hodge was backed up excellently by Sophia Dunkley, who contributed 49 not out in an unbroken 128-run stand as she once again deputised for injured England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Sciver-Brunt is expected to recover from the left calf injury that has plagued her summer and asked if she had done enough to keep her place, Dunkley said: “Honestly, it’s probably above my pay grade!
“I don’t really know. If I play, I’ll be ready to play and I’ll just have to see how it goes.”
In missing out on a top-two spot – with the West Indies advancing alongside England to the knockouts – New Zealand bade farewell to all-rounders Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates and seamer Lea Tahuhu.
The retiring trio share a hefty 448 T20 caps and were given a guard of honour after the White Ferns’ defeat, where Devine slapped 30 off 14 balls and Bates 19 off 13 in their side’s 163 for six although Tahuhu signed off by bowling a wide when the scores were level to get England over the line.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr said: “They’re three of New Zealand’s best-ever White Ferns, which is pretty special. Very amazing cricketers, very amazing people for our environment and they will be missed.”
