West Indies captain Hayley Matthews says her side is motivated to “prove people wrong” as they prepare to face unbeaten Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval.

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West Indies captain Hayley Matthews believes her team has nothing to lose and everything to gain as they prepare for a daunting Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final clash against six-time champions Australia at The Oval.

Despite Australia entering the contest as overwhelming favourites, Matthews insisted that the underdog tag has only strengthened her team’s determination. She admitted that very few people expect West Indies to pull off an upset, but that mindset has become a powerful source of motivation within the squad.

“We love proving people wrong,” Matthews said ahead of the blockbuster encounter. “Every time we step onto the field, people expect us to lose. That gives us extra motivation to fight harder and prove ourselves.”

West Indies have struggled historically against Australia, winning just two of their 19 T20 internationals. One of those memorable victories came in the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup final, where a teenage Matthews starred with a brilliant 66 off 45 balls to help West Indies lift their only world title. However, Matthews acknowledged that women’s cricket has evolved significantly over the past decade and past achievements alone will not matter in Tuesday’s semi-final.

The Caribbean side’s journey to the knockout stage has been far from convincing. They suffered disappointing defeats during the tournament, including a loss to Ireland that left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance. West Indies eventually reached the semi-finals only after England defeated New Zealand, a scenario Matthews admitted was emotionally draining.

She revealed that the squad was disappointed to rely on other results but believes that experience has made them mentally stronger. According to Matthews, setbacks have often fueled the team’s resilience, referencing their failure to qualify for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup as an example of how disappointment inspired improvement.

Australia, meanwhile, have once again demonstrated why they remain the benchmark in women’s cricket. The defending champions cruised through a challenging group featuring India and South Africa without losing a match and continue to be favourites for another world title.

Matthews acknowledged that beating Australia will require complete team effort rather than individual brilliance alone. While experienced stars will have to deliver, she also highlighted the importance of role players such as Aaliyah Alleyne and Jazarah Claxton, whose contributions throughout the tournament have strengthened the squad.

The West Indies skipper also admitted that her own batting performances have fallen below expectations. Although she has been among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers, Matthews has managed just 115 runs in five matches at a strike rate below 100—numbers she knows must improve if her side hopes to reach the final.

“As captain, I accept the responsibility,” Matthews said. “I’ve contributed with the ball, but I know the team needs me to perform with the bat as well. I want to step up when it matters most.”

Despite Australia’s formidable reputation, Matthews believes the psychological pressure rests more heavily on their opponents. She feels West Indies can approach the match with greater freedom, knowing they have little to lose while Australia face enormous expectations to win.

“When people think it will be a surprise if you win, it allows you to play freely,” Matthews explained. “Australia are expected to beat us, so the pressure is on them. That takes some pressure off our shoulders.”

The highly anticipated first semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup will be played as a day game at The Oval, where West Indies will look to produce one of the tournament’s biggest upsets against the unbeaten Australian side.