Rapid batting cameo pleases Haynes

Opportunities with the bat have been few and far between for Rachael Haynes in Australia's T20 side of late, but the Australian vice-captain is making a habit of seizing those chances when they do come her way.

Coming to the crease in Thursday's World T20 semi-final against West Indies with Australia 4-109 in the 17th over, Haynes struck a rapid unbeaten 25 from 15 deliveries to help lift her team to 5-142, a target that proved more than enough in a 71-run victory.

Thanks to Haynes, Australia added 39 runs from the final four overs, including 17 from one Deandra Dottin over. 

Dottin was the tournament's leading wicket taker heading into the match but walked away with figures of 1-23 from two overs.

"She set quite a strong off-side field and perhaps just missed her length a little bit...she didn't really take the pace off so it was a lot easier to use her pace and find a boundary that way," Haynes said of Dottin.

The 31-year-old, who comes in at No.6, has only batted 10 times in Australia's 16 T20 matches of 2018 to date, but has been dismissed just twice in that time.

In addition to key knocks of 65 from 45 against England in March and an unbeaten 69 from 40 against New Zealand in September, she's also made several smaller but critical contributions, including 29no from 18 in a group match against New Zealand last week and Thursday's effort against the Windies.

Speaking after Australia sealed their spot in Saturday's decider against England, Haynes revealed the level of planning she'd put into her knock, knowing likely she'd be coming in late with quick runs needed.

"I was having a think about who was left to bowl and I knew they'd probably bowl out (Afy) Fletcher, but (Deandra) Dottin would come in the finish the innings and Stafanie (Taylor) as well, so I was waiting to bat just trying to build a bit of a plan against those bowlers and then it came off," Haynes said.

"It's a tough wicket out there, I was probably lucky the pace was back on the ball when I came out to bat so that made it a little easier for me...being able to work it around a little bit rather than having to try and create my own pace on the slower bowlers.

"During the innings I was chatting to the coaches about it and we wanted to try and get to 140.

"We thought that would be a really good score on that wicket. 

"So for me when I walked out to bat, it was about having a lot of clarity on how I was going to play because I knew I'd have a limited amount of deliveries to try and get us as close to that as possible and I was fortunate it came off."

After Haynes' knock ensured the Australians went into the break with the momentum in their favour, it was Ellyse Perry who starred early with the ball to put the No.1 ranked team firmly on top.

Her first over was a wicket maiden as she had the dangerous Dottin chopping on for six, before she struck again in the fifth, with Shemaine Campbelle caught by Sophie Molineux at square leg for seven.

She only bowled those two overs as the Windies crumbled, walking away with figures of 2-2.

"Ellyse Perry just loves a big occasion, she's got a knack of coming through in those big moments," Haynes said. 

"I was chatting to Meg (Lanning) out there about the best options for the power play and I think Pez is always able to capture those big moments, she's just got a knack for it.

"The way she just beat Dottin and went completely through and skittled her stumps, it was a really big moment in the game."

A blockbuster final against England now awaits Australia on Saturday (11am Sunday AEDT) and Haynes believes the momentum gained from their semi-final win over the hosts and reigning champions will stand them in good stead to claim a fourth World T20 title.

"The good thing is I think we've played a fair bit of cricket against (England) so we know the opposition quite well, and getting an insight into the conditions helps as well," Haynes added.

"But I think it's the composure in our team, that's something that really stands out to me at the moment.

"We've got some big game players, we've got some players who can be dangerous on their day but there's just a real composure which stands out to me and I think that'll be really important in the final."

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia beat Pakistan by 52 runs

November 11: Australia beat Ireland by nine wickets

November 13: Australia beat New Zealand by 33 runs

November 17: Australia lost to India by 48 runs

November 22: Semi-final: Australia beat West Indies by 71 runs

November 24: Final: Australia v England, Sir Vivian Richards Ground