All-rounder Alice Capsey has urged England to continue their winning momentum against New Zealand at The Oval ahead of semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
England will aim to secure a fifth consecutive World Cup win in Saturday’s final group fixture with New Zealand having already secured a last-four berth and top spot in Group B, which will mean no semi-final meeting with Group A leaders and six-time T20 champions Australia.
Charlotte Edwards watched England make it four wins from four in the home tournament in a professional 38-run victory over the West Indies at Lord’s on Thursday and although they have handled the pressure of being the host nation comfortably so far, tougher challenges are ahead.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sophie Ecclestone became the fifth bowler to claim 150 wickets in T20 internationals during England’s win over Scotland
The White Ferns are the defending champions and know they must win and hope other results go their way in order to progress to the semi-finals.
Capsey is wary of New Zealand, who eliminated Scotland to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
She said: “We know they’re a brilliant side. They’ve got a few match winners in there and we know that we’ll have to play our best to beat them.
“It looks like a lovely pitch so I’m sure it’ll be a great game of cricket but it’s about kind of continuing our momentum in this tournament and heading into that semi-final, hopefully, with a win.
“For us it’s about focusing on what we can control and we’re controlling how we want to go about against New Zealand, making sure we get all the things done, making sure we’re the best prepared we can be and then whatever happens with how kind of the groups lay at the end of the group stages is how they’ll lay, and I think what we’ve found in this tournament so far is that every team is putting their hand up.
“There’s been some amazing close games and it’s been amazing to see as a viewer let alone as a player. We know that, regardless whoever we come up against in the semi-final, it’s going to be a brilliant game of cricket that we’re going to prepare well for, but at the moment our focus is on New Zealand.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley reveal who their funniest team-mate is, who is always late and name the hardest trainer.
And after experiencing challenges with air conditioning as well as a water and power outage – lasting a few hours – in their previous accommodation during the ongoing heatwave, Capsey and her team-mates are relieved to be sleeping elsewhere with the Met Office forecasting a high of 33 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
She said: “It was carnage that day! But hey, we’ve moved to a lovely hotel in Battersea, and I think as a group over our rest day we were enjoying kind of mooching around and seeing what Battersea has to offer, which is always nice.
“And a few less aircon issues, to say the least.”
While the capital will no longer be under a red weather warning for “extreme heat”, an amber alert – one level down – will still be in place.
She added: “Every game in a World Cup is an opportunity to mark your stamp on the tournament, and I think every game is so crucial.
“We set pretty high standards for ourselves, and it will be another opportunity to raise those standards even further.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nat Sciver-Brunt struggled to contain her excitement for what England can achieve at the T20 World Cup
England’s T20 World Cup results and fixtures
All games live on Sky Sports; all times UK and Ireland
Stream T20 World Cup matches for FREE
Watch all of England, Ireland and Scotland’s matches at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for free on the Sky Sports App
Everyone can stream all of the group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the Women’s T20 World Cup, live for FREE on the Sky Sports App.
All you have to do is download the latest version of the Sky Sports App onto your phone or tablet and log in.
Download the Sky Sports App on: iPhone & iPad | Android
Watch England’s final Women’s T20 World Cup group game, against New Zealand at The Kia Oval (first ball at 6.30pm), live on Saturday on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. You can also stream the match for FREE on the Sky Sports App.
