Danni Wyatt: England opener in sights of T20 World Cup glory after WPL ‘Heartbreak’ | Cricket News
Danni Wyatt: England opener in sights of T20 World Cup glory after WPL ‘Heartbreak’ | Cricket News
#Danni #Wyatt #England #opener #sights #T20 #World #Cup #glory #WPL #Heartbreak #Cricket #News Welcome to InNewCL, here is the new story we have for you today:
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England opener Danni Wyatt says she is focused on helping England win the women’s T20 World Cup and wants to put the “heartache” of missing out on a deal in the women’s Premier League behind her.
England meet South Africa in the semi-finals on Friday in hopes of securing a place in Sunday’s final, and Wyatt comes into the competition in fine form after hitting 59 balls from 33 as England set a T20 World Cup record posted a 213-5 result in their 114-run thrashing of Pakistan on Tuesday.
Friday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m
Wyatt shared a 74-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt (81 without 40 balls), who continued her own brilliant form for the tournament with a second straight half-century.
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Highlights as England beat Pakistan by 114 runs to top T20 World Cup women’s group
Sciver-Brunt was sold in the first WPL auction earlier this month for £320,000 – the combined highest price among foreign players for the India-based competition – while Wyatt remained surprisingly unsold, but the 31-year-old batsman was full of praise for hers teammates.
“I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do — she’s hitting the ball like a beach ball right now,” Wyatt said of Sciver-Brunt.
“I love batting with Nat. She’s very smart, very adaptable and hopefully she can carry her form to the finals with some big runs in the next few games.
“She’s as cool as a cucumber, our Nat, nothing fazes her. Even when she’s grown up [WPL] Pay package the other day. Everyone really looks up to her.”
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Nat Sciver-Brunt says the women’s Premier League auction has been a “strange day” but that women’s cricket is “at the core of something special”.
To her own disappointment at missing out on a WPL deal, Wyatt said: “It’s been a very heartbreaking few days.
“I was obviously very disappointed to have attended the IPL exhibition matches… and I love playing cricket in India. It is one of the best places to play cricket.
“Not even having an offer was pretty heartbreaking but that’s life and my focus now is just this World Cup.
“The next day the sun is still rising.”
She added: “The girls have come around to me, which is really nice. It’s an honor for everyone in our squad – even for the staff.
“Obviously some people got what they wanted and some didn’t. I was just so proud of how everyone handled it. I definitely felt a lot of love.”
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Nasser Hussain and Tammy Beaumont look back on England’s T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa with an emphasis on staying relaxed and embracing the big occasion
England go into Friday’s semi-finals as big favorites after finishing the group stage with a 100 per cent record and four wins in four. They have also won their last four matches against South Africa in the women’s T20 internationals.
Wyatt, who is happy with her contribution against Pakistan on a personal level after a slow start to the tournament, insists England will try to play up front again and bring the game to their hosts in Cape Town.
“T20 cricket is so up and down,” she said. “Especially as an opener, it can get brutal at times.
“You just have to believe in yourself, go ahead and take it to them. It can be easy if you fail a few times to go out there and just bang it around, but I told myself to go ahead be brave and give the team a good start.
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Wyatt said England want to keep breaking records and playing “positive cricket”.
“We got license at the top of the order to go from ball one. We have the depth in the order that allows us to do that too – even if it’s going to be difficult conditions, we’re still going to push on hard.
“Everyone feels very confident and, more importantly, very relaxed. A semi-final, at the end of the tournament, it’s really important to be calm and smart about how to go out and play.
“We are all ready. These moments don’t happen very often; you have to really embrace these days, show the world what you can and what will be, will be.”
South Africa captain says hosts have ‘nothing to lose’
Meanwhile, South Africa captain Sune Luus says her side have “nothing to lose” as they attempt to snatch a place in a World Cup final for the first time – and on home soil.
While England progressed to the knockout rounds, South Africa needed a nervous win over Bangladesh on Tuesday to secure their place.
“There’s no pressure on us, we can go out and enjoy the moment and try to do our best,” Luus told reporters.
“It was hard work getting here. We’re still looking for the perfect game where all aspects work and fit together.”
Luus added: “You [England] play a very offensive brand, but that can be to our advantage. Once they lose a wicket they keep playing aggressively which gives us a chance.
“We also have to play attacking cricket from the start of the game.”
South Africa have won just three of their 23 international T20 matches against England, the last of which came at the last World Cup in Perth three years ago.
They have reached the semifinals of the last two 50-over World Championships and reached the last four at the previous T20 tournament in 2020. They have made a total of five semi-final appearances in the two World Cup formats without ever reaching a final.
“We’ve been on the other side too many times, we know how it feels [to lose at this stage]’ Louis added. “It gives us enough motivation to go out there and just enjoy it without losing anything.
“We have to focus on the essentials and do the simple things right. That gives us the best chances.”
Watch England take on South Africa in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup live on InNewCL Sports Cricket. Coverage begins at 12:30 p.m., with the first ball thrown at 1:00 p.m.
