Pollard bemoans 'erratic' WI bowling after 1st T20 defeat

KIERON POLLARD described his team’s bowling performance as “erratic” after West Indies lost to hosts New Zealand by five wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first match of the three-match T20 series at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday.

Pollard was at his best scoring 75 not out to rescue the Windies innings and lead his team to a competitive 180/7. The game was reduced to a 16-overs-per-team affair after three rain stoppages during the WI innings. Chasing a revised target of 176 in 16 overs, New Zealand got to 179/5 with four deliveries to spare.

West Indies will aim to bounce back in the second match at Mt Maunganui on Saturday at 9 pm (TT time). The third and final match of the series will also be played at Mt Maunganui on Monday at 2 am (TT time).

In a post-game interview, Pollard said, “I thought it was an entertaining game of cricket for the fans and the general public, something that they have not gotten for a very long time…in terms of our discipline in the bowling aspect of things I thought we were a bit erratic.

"We were a bit indisciplined and in international cricket if you bowl so many no-balls and you are so inconsistent with your execution, you're definitely going to end up on the losing side.”

New Zealand were in a spot of bother in their run chase as they were reduced to 63/4 in the seventh over, before West Indies let the game slip.

Medium pacer Keemo Paul struggled to control his length as he bowled multiple full tosses with the majority of his five no-balls being called for deliveries over the batsman’s waist. Paul ended with figures of 0/39 in three overs.

Fast bowler Kesrick Williams, who also bowled a no-ball, had a match to forget. He ended with 0/33 in two overs.

West Indies leaked 15 extras which included six no-balls, three wides, two leg byes and four byes.

Pollard was uncertain if West Indies scored enough runs, saying Eden Park is “a bit small.”

He asked, “On this ground what is enough?”

Before being reduced to 63/4, New Zealand were in a fairly comfortable position on 62/2 in the sixth over. Pollard said West Indies let the match slip away.

“Having them go at the start at over 10, 11 (runs per over) you want to get a couple wickets and put them on the back foot. (It is) exactly what we did, but we weren’t disciplined enough to stay in the game a bit longer and carry it down to the end.”

Pollard, who received a blow to his ribs while batting, said he is ready for the challenge ahead.

“The ribs are fine. You guys battered and bruised me today, that’s fine. I am here for the fight if it is one thing. I am not going to back down.”

Pollard said New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who took 5/21 in four overs, was exceptional.

“He bowled pretty well today, magnificent spell by him. He put us on the back foot (after) we got off to a flyer, (but) these things happen in cricket. Losing a couple of wickets, (losing) that sort of momentum definitely wasn’t what we were actually looking for at that point in time.”

West Indies were 58 without loss after 3.2 overs, but then suffered a collapse and were reduced to 59/5 in 5.1 overs.

Despite the victory, Man of the Match Ferguson said New Zealand must improve as the series progresses.

“When you have a West Indies side with so much power throughout the whole line up (you have to keep improving). They are all looking to hit sixes so we need to make sure that we go back to our plans, reassess and work out our plans going forward.”