WEST INDIES captain Hayley Matthews admitted her side has “a sense of loving to prove people wrong” ahead of their Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia.

The Windies came into the tournament having won just two of their eight T20s this year but defied expectations to reach the knockouts by qualifying from Group B, finishing runners-up to England.

Matthews’ side have done so despite an historic loss to Ireland on Saturday while red-hot tournament favourites Australia claimed a 3-0 clean sweep over the Windies in the Caribbean in March.

But Matthews said ahead of Tuesday’s showdown at the Oval: “I feel like we kind of show up almost every single time we come to a World Cup.

“I don’t know what it is within the group, if it’s the passion or the drive, but I certainly feel like there is a sense of loving to prove people wrong.

“Yes, we have to prove ourselves over and over, but I think it drives a lot of our players, and we try to use it as motivation and fuel to just want to play harder and prove ourselves every single time.”

Matthews was 18 when she inspired the Windies to glory in 2016, beating Australia in the final, to win their only World Cup trophy although she accepts “the game was a lot different at that time.”

While the Windies have only beaten their last-four opponents twice in 19 attempts, Ash Gardner says Australia are taking nothing for granted despite recording five successive Group A victories.

“They’re a completely different threat,” the Australia all-rounder said. “You know, they’ve got a lot of class and a lot of firepower within their team. Also a lot of experience.”