MUMBAI, India – First-time finalists West Indies Women enter the Grand Final of the ICC Women’s World Cup India 2013 full of confidence, when they face five-time champions Australia Women in a bid to win the most coveted prize in Women’s cricket.
Merissa Aguilleira captain of West Indies, speaks during the press conference after the the ICC Women World Cup match between Australia vs West Indies at the MIG ground in Mumbai, India on February 13, 2013. (ICC/SOLARIS IMAGES)
The two teams face-off on Sunday at the Brabourne Stadium in a day/night fixture (starting at 5 a.m. East Caribbean Time) televised globally, including on ESPN Caribbean.
It’s the biggest match in the history of the Windies Women’s team and their captain Merissa Aguilleira outlined the approach when she spoke to WICB Media after a full training session on Saturday.
“We are pumped and we are ready,” she said. “This is a really big moment for Windies Women’s cricket and for women’s cricket.
“We want to grab hold of the opportunity and make great use of it. We believe we have a psychological advantage.”
She said: “They are a good team, but we will stick to our basics – we will look to set a target and look to work with it.
“Our bowling has been good and we will look to continue the momentum. It’s all about applying ourselves. They create a good challenge, they have a good all-round team, but we don’t see them as a cut above us. We are ready for this!”
Aguilleira took over the job as captain five years and led the team to fifth place in the 2009 ICC WWC in Australia.
Since then, she has been a key member of the side and guided the Windies Women to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament three years ago in the Caribbean and last year in Sri Lanka.
She is part of a strong batting unit which also includes Stafanie Taylor, the leading female all-rounder in the World, Deandra Dottin, the most powerful batter in the history of the women’s game, along with twin sisters Kycia and Kyshona Knight, who have batted well at the top of the order.
The team’s main strength however, is in the bowling department, which is led by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed. She is backed up by Taylor’s off-breaks, the left-arm spin of Shanel Daley, as well as 17-year-old Shaquana Quintyne’s leg-spin.
During this tournament, Tremayne Smartt has also been brilliant with the new ball, while Dottin has been effective with her medium pace.
“This tournament has been a roller coaster for us, full of ups and downs,” she said. “But I guess that’s where the true spirit lies – where you are able to come back from a depth. I must say we stuck together as a team. We motivated ourselves.
“It is the best feeling. We have nothing to lose right now. It will be good to know that we can actually get the trophy.”
She concluded: “We have been playing good cricket, believing in each other and ourselves. Once you really go out there, play as a unit and show what you can do as a team, it becomes easier.
“It would mean everything to us to win the World Cup. Not just for us, but for the people of the Caribbean, our fans, and for women’s cricket. It would be overwhelming.”