Hayley Matthews, captain of West Indies, says her side's unbeaten run at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has placed them in a commanding position heading into a pivotal Group Stage encounter against hosts England at Lord's, London on Wednesday. The confidence follows a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the County Ground, Bristol on Sunday — West Indies' third consecutive win of the tournament.

Three from Three: West Indies on the Verge of Qualification

The win over Sri Lanka extended West Indies' record to three victories from three matches, leaving them needing just one more success to all but seal a place in the semi-finals. Matthews was measured but upbeat in her assessment after the match. 'It puts us in a really good place. Going into the next match against England, I think we've got high confidence. If we can win one more game here, it gets us into the semifinals. So yeah, a lot of confidence going into the next two matches, but still just want to take it one game at a time,' she said.

Tactical Decisions That Made the Difference

Matthews pointed to the toss as a pivotal moment, with West Indies eager to exploit early movement on a surface offering extra bounce. 'I think it was a crucial toss for sure. We definitely felt like we had a bit of tennis ball bounce early on. So yeah, really good that we got to bowl and take advantage of that,' she said.

West Indies also made a significant tactical adjustment to their playing XI, bringing in additional spinner Ashmini Munisar. Matthews explained the thinking: 'I think a bit of the tactical awareness against a team like Sri Lanka, but also certainly feel like we have enough batters down the line. And I guess having that extra spinner could have really made a difference, which it sure did today.'

Matthews' Best-Ever T20 World Cup Figures

The all-rounder backed the decision with a personal best performance in Women's T20 World Cup cricket, returning figures of 3 for 15 after dismantling Sri Lanka's top order inside the powerplay. Her primary targets were Sri Lanka's left-handed batting threats at the top of the order. 'It was really crucial for us to get some early wickets. We know Sri Lanka's really big batters are the ones at the top of the order with their two left-handers at Chamari and the other one as well. So yeah, I think for us, we just really wanted to get some early wickets,' she explained.

Composure During the Chase

Despite losing five wickets in pursuit of a 99-run target, Matthews insisted the dressing room remained calm throughout. 'Certainly no pressure. We were at 36 after six overs. We're right on top of the game. Stafanie at the crease and we had players like Alleyne still to come in as well. So I don't think we had any nerves at any point in time. Probably would have liked to chase it down a bit more convincingly, but I think chasing totals like that can always be a bit tricky,' she said. Notably, this composure under pressure — chasing a low target without panic despite falling wickets — reflects the side's growing maturity in knockout-pressure situations.

What's Next: England at Lord's

West Indies now face an equally unbeaten England side at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Wednesday. The match carries semi-final implications for both teams. Matthews' focus, however, remains grounded: 'What's really important is that we're winning matches right now.' With momentum, tactical flexibility, and a captain in peak form, West Indies enter the clash as a side that has earned the right to believe.