Battle of different styles

It will be a battle of contrasting styles when two-time defending champions Australia take on the emerging power West Indies in the first semifinal of the Women's World Twenty20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today. The match begins at 2:30pm.
While Australia bank on their ruthless and clinical all-round team effort, West Indies thrive on individual brilliance and the flamboyance and athleticism they bring to the field. The Australians are, on paper, the favourites, but as the West Indies side have shown in their group matches, apart from the defeat against India in a dead rubber, they are the most improved side in women's cricket and a win against the champions is not unlikely.
Australia have gone from strength to strength since their opening match defeat against New Zealand as they have brushed aside South Africa, Ireland and Pakistan to top Group A. Their inspirational skipper Meg Lanning has done justice to the tag of being the best batsman in this format. Her 126 against Ireland showcased the array of her shots and on her day, she can tear apart any opponent. Lanning has been well complemented by the likes of Elyse Villani, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry. Perry has also been instrumental with her medium-pacers, taking six wickets at an average of 11.50 while Sarah Coyte has given Australia important breakthroughs. The two spinners -- Jess Jonassen and Erin Osborne -- have shared ten wickets between them in four matches and they will be itching to go out at Sher-e-Bangla, which will be far more to their liking than the batting-friendly wickets of Sylhet.
While Australia's spinners have thrived, the West Indies' spinners have failed to do justice to their names, with the exception of young leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne. However, it is their pace department -- Tremayne Smartt, Shanel Daley and Deandra Dottin -- who have ruled the roost.
West Indies have two of the most destructive batsmen in the form in Dottin and Stefanie Taylor and if either of them gets going, things can get out of Australia's hands. Merrisa Aguilleira, the wicketkeeper-cum-captain, has marshalled her troops reasonably well. In her absence, West Indies suffered a thumping defeat against India, but they would like to make sure that that was just a one-off incident.
That West Indies have been the most improved side in women's cricket has been confirmed by their third straight appearance in the semifinals. This time they are looking to get past the stage where their juggernaut came to a halt the last two times. And to make that happen, they will have to overcome the biggest of hurdles.