'Fearless' approach is West Indies' plan in knockout semi

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has vowed to step up and ensure that her side takes a 'fearless' approach into their crunch semi-final showdown with Australia at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

Their clash at The Oval in London marks the all-or-nothing knockout phase of the tournament, with the winner booking a spot in Sunday's title decider at Lord's.

Australia are unbeaten, winning all five group games. The West Indies overcame Sri Lanka, Scotland and New Zealand to book their semi-final qualification, despite losing to England and Ireland on the run into the knockout phase.

Matthews confirms that the West Indies are leaning into an underdog mindset that sets them up to play a fearless brand against the Aussies.

"We're really excited as a group," she told media.

"We have nothing to lose and that puts us in a position where we can be quite fearless going out there. You can't take your foot off the gas at any point in time, I think, especially when you're bowling. They seem to come hard from ball one and have a mantra where they just want to keep going. I certainly feel as though that keeps you in play a lot when it comes to having the opportunity to possibly take wickets."

"Coming up against a team like (Australia), who we know has a bunch of great players and superstars, we're going to have to have somebody stand out and do something special but also have a lot of different people from the team contribute. We have a lot of match winners."

Matthews hasn't shied away from the pressure of needing to be one of the West Indies' standout performers.

"We haven't had the likes of myself or Deandra Dottin in the runs really - and that leaves a lot of room for improvement for us as a team," she continued.

"So hopefully we can see some of us stepping up a bit more and taking it to the Aussies.

"We're going to need big performances from big players. To beat a team like Australia, you still need more than one player and we're going to have to have our best players really stepping up to the plate on Tuesday."

Meanwhile, it's been something of a meteoric rise for 20-year-old left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton.

Having been a notable inclusion for Australia's ICC Women's T20 World Cup squad, Hamilton has had a chance to repay selectors' faith in their last three games, taking the new ball and producing tight bowling in pivotal contests that helped seal her side's spot in the knockout phase.

"It's been really fun," Hamilton told cricket.com.au at The Oval on Monday.

"(It's) really exciting to run out there and take the first over."

The Queenslander looks and feels right at home playing alongside some of the highest profile cricketers in the world; yet to show any signs of being overawed by the occasion.

Her greatest test so far came in Australia's last match against a desperate India side, in front of a parochial and noisy Lord's crowd, against a fearsome top order. And similar to her other two World Cup appearances, Hamilton proved hard to put away - having now kept her bowling economy under six runs per over in three consecutive fixtures.

"Personally, I took heaps of confidence (out of the India game)," she continued.

"Everyone feels nervous, and you always have those moments, but running out, singing the anthem in front of so many people (at Lord's) and knowing how much it means to everyone, you always have those couple of nerves but I think once you get that first over under underway you settle into the game."

Hamilton will be hoping she has done enough to demand selection in Australia's must-win showdown with the West Indies.

"Knowing that the team did really well ... the semi-finals are an even bigger occasion, so knowing that I've got that under my belt and with a massive crowd and against a really strong Indian team, gives me lots of confidence," she added.

"It's a fast turnaround, but I think it's really good in T20 cricket to have that momentum, we're all ready to go and can't wait. The quality of cricket that we've been playing recently ... you want that leading into a semi."

If Hamilton is picked in Australia's semi-final XI, it will mark her first ever match at The Oval in London. But given she continues rising to the occasion in unfamiliar scenarios, there is every confidence she will handle whatever challenges come against the West Indies.

"I haven't played at The Oval before ... I'm glad I came down (on match eve) just to have a look at the facilities and get used to it and see how fast the outfield is. The conditions can change a lot, so we just have to adapt to them as fast as we can and play our style of cricket.

"I think (West Indies) have nothing to lose in the semi, so they'll come out hard and they're a great opposition."