One step forward for Windies

At the end of an intriguing T20 series between West Indies and India, the Caribbean players triumphed in the fifth game of the series with a convincing win.

I must congratulate the captain, Rovman Powell of Jamaica, for showing the fortitude to maintain his positive approach and his never-say-die attitude in tackling the strength of India’s T20 under stand-in captain, Hardik Pandya.

The touring team’s captain is Rohit Sharma, who took a break after being victorious in the two-match Test series one-nil after rain ruined the other Test at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Then in the three ODIs, WI lost a closely fought contest by two games to one. And in the last tournament of the three-format series, the Caribbean team succeeded against a team that is

way above them in the world standings in T20s, by three games to two.

Hopefully, there will be a gradual return to self-confidence. Maybe many lessons have been learnt, like knowing that in a game of cricket a well-prepared team with the right attitude, the loyalty to the country and its clubs, schools and coaches that taught the players how to play, will be respected

and constant practice adhered to.

To stick with this T20 series that WI won: it was most dramatic in its ups and downs.

The first surprise was India being defeated in the first two games. It was surprising to bolt out of the gate with two wins, the first at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, the second at Guyana National Stadium in Providence, Guyana.

Just imagine WI being in this position in a five-game series against a stalwart like India. Although there were two closely fought battles for supremacy in those games, one, a victory by just four runs in Trinidad and the second in a nerve-racking two-wicket win in Guyana.

It was too much to expect WI, unaccustomed as they are to winning, to close out the series in that third game at the same venue at Providence.

However, this time India showed their class by bursting the balloon of hope for WI and did it in a decisive manner by seven wickets. This was followed up in the next game, the fourth of the series, by a commanding nine-wicket wipeout.

Therefore, August 13 was the day the series winners would be decided. And it was to be the day after the fourth game. Winner takes all. A two-all tie going into the final game of the T20 series. The WI had everything to play for, if only to get the better of India in this format, having lost in the other two versions, the Test series and ODI. India wanted to close out the Caribbean all-formats trip with a complete three-series vindication of superiority.

These last two games, of vital importance, were both played at Broward County Stadium in Lauder Hill, Florida. The first was won by India, levelling the series at two-all, which could not have been set up better for the last game at the same stadium, plus, on the same pitch. This was the first wicket in the T20 series that had the hallmark of how a limited-overs wicket should play.

This means all advantages to the batsmen and bowlers really have to be pinpoint accurate to come away with a complimentary analysis. This is so mainly for crowd entertainment – for those who have come to this type of game to witness action and not subtlety, nor strategy or tactical

endeavour.

The final decider game was enjoyable for the West Indies patrons, but a disappointment for the Indian supporters.

In the fourth game, the day before, on August 12, WI were struggling at 57 for four and were revived by Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, to recover with a decent score of 178 for eight at 20 overs. After wiping out this score, losing only one wicket, the grand finale was set for the last day. However, West Indian hearts dropped with the complete domination in games three and four when WI only needed one victory to win the series.

The tables turned in the deciding fifth match, when India batted first after winning the toss and could only accumulate 165/9. They seemed over-confident. Thanks to a particularly brilliant innings by Brandon King and a sensible one by Nicholas Pooran WI won by eight wickets.

WI batting has natural ability; however, it lacks virtues like concentration, technique and intelligence. A coach should impart this wisdom.