England's women's cricket team is fired up like a Red Bull rocket, blasting their way into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with an unblemished record from the group stage. Five wins on the trot, culminating in a crushing victory over New Zealand on Saturday, have left them brimming with confidence and momentum to spare.
Coach Charlotte Edwards beamed with pride when speaking to BBC Test Match Special: "This is a confident bunch of girls who genuinely believe they can win from anywhere. And it's not just talk – we're seeing match-winning performances all over the pitch, which is exactly what we've been asking for." She couldn't hide her grin as she revealed that this squad has more confidence heading into a World Cup semi-final than ever before.
The manner of their victories has been nothing short of sensational. Against Sri Lanka and Scotland, England smashed out totals of 200+ with ease. Even on the tricky Lord's pitch against the West Indies, they posted a strong 186-7 – no mean feat! And let's not forget that thrilling chase against New Zealand, where Danni Wyatt-Hodge took centre stage with an unbeaten 89 to seal victory with 2.4 overs to spare.
Edwards highlighted the team's upward trajectory: "We're getting better with each game – it's a really good feeling as we head into the business end of the tournament." She was lavish in her praise for the batting unit, calling them "a powerhouse that's giving us a huge boost", and also gave credit to the bowling performance against New Zealand on what was described as a favourable pitch.
The semi-final showdown is still up for grabs, with England waiting to discover their opponents from Group One. India or South Africa are likely contenders – but either way, Edwards knows her team will be ready: "We're going in with the most confidence we've ever had and plenty of belief that we can take it all the way."
The potential fixture dates are Wednesday (Tuesday for Indian TV audiences) at 14:30 BST or Thursday at 18:30 BST – but one thing's for sure, England will be raring to go whenever they take to the pitch.