Windies look to ride on momentum in decider
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – An energised West Indies will hope to build on the momentum gained from their emphatic win in their last outing when they meet India in the decisive fifth and final One-Day International here today.
The contest at Sabina Park will be pivotal for the hosts as they try to avoid yet another series defeat but more importantly, gain valuable rankings points in their race for automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
Down 2-1, victory will ensure a drawn series and a break a sequence of series defeats to India dating back to 2006 and also provide a much-needed boost to the regional side’s confidence after a run of unflattering results.
Captain Jason Holder, at the forefront of last Sunday’s stunning 11-run victory in Antigua, said his side were pumped up for the encounter and were keen on executing properly.
“We’re still in the series. We fought well in the last game to come back and keep ourselves alive in the series,” said the Barbadian all-rounder.
“Credit must go to the bowlers the way they bowled throughout this entire series, I think we’ve been outstanding. The fielders have supported reasonably well as well. We just need to get our batting consistent.
“We’ve been struggling to play a perfect game and tomorrow is obviously an opportunity to do that.”
Defending 189 in the fourth ODI four days ago, West Indies bowled superbly to restrict India to 178 all out in a shock result at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
But despite the victory, the hosts’ batting woes were exposed as their lineup once again wilted against India’s varied attack. Not a single batsman managed a half-century with openers Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope topscoring with 35 apiece.
Following the washout of the first ODI of the doubleheader in Trinidad, West Indies were restricted to 205 in pursuit of 311 in the second and then dismissed for 158 chasing 252
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