MOHALI, India (CMC) — All-rounder Deandra Dottin says she is comfortable with her role as a death overs specialist after West Indies knocked out India on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Twenty20 (T20) World Cup.
Dottin bowled an outstanding last over to spur West Indies to a nerve-racking three-run win over India in their Group B game at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
She removed Ekta Bisht with a yorker, forced the run out of Shikha Pandey, and with the penultimate ball of the final over, dismissed Sushma Verma to restrict India to 111 for nine.
“My heart was very good. I am accustomed. I love bowling last overs. It has become a trend for me having to bring my team to victory. I like being in that position,” declared Dottin.
“The captain told me I have to limit the boundaries. Bowl yorkers. I said ‘It’s ok, we got this’. I still have my nerve. When I am bowling I don’t have nerve. It is only when am batting I have nerves. So I am just calm when I am bowling.”
Dottin made 45 and Stafanie Taylor, the Windies Women’s captain, led the way with 47, sharing a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 77 that anchored the Caribbean side to 114 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were put into bat.
Dottin, later named Player of the Match, returned to grab 3-16 from her allotted four overs, as India Women were restricted to 111 for nine from their 20 overs, to silence a near-capacity crowd.
“The game plan was to stay there as long as possible,” said Dottin.
“Knock around the ball, get the singles, the twos and pounce on the bad balls. Try not to make rash shots. But the whole idea was to stay there until the last couple of overs .”
The result meant that the West Indies Women ended the group stage in second position with six points — two behind group winners England Women.
They will face New Zealand Women on Thursday in semi-final action at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“We are looking forward to playing New Zealand,” said Dottin.
“We actually have the chance to be in the finals. So it’s just some work that needs to be done and this team will bring it home.”