We’ll bounce back: Holder

Mumbai, Oct. 30: West Indies captain Jason Holder said his team didn’t do justice to their potential in the fourth and penultimate ODI but expressed optimism of bouncing back in the series decider.

“We definitely didn’t play well. The way we started the series and the way we have played so far, we certainly didn’t do any justice,” Holder said.

“We conceded too many runs. I felt it was a very good wicket. It was a wicket where once you get in, you can go really big. Unfortunately none of our batters just really gave themselves a chance to bat deep into the innings.”

“Obviously cricket is played in a day and we just got to play clinical game all through the day. But it just didn’t come off. Hopefully the guys can regroup in the next couple of days and come back strongly,” said the West Indies skipper ahead of the final game to be played on Thursday at Thiruvananthapuram.

Holder said India’s middle- order has not been tested enough so far with the top order taking up the bulk of the pressure. “Yeah, good players, they play really well but we have shown we can get them out. It’s just matter of being more consistent.” New Delhi, Oct. 30: Rohit Sharma struck yet another ‘ daddy hundred’ but it was probably Ambati Rayudu’s relatively modest century on Monday which pleased India captain Virat Kohli more as he seeks an end to a pesky problem seven months before next year’s World Cup.

An undercooked middle order has been the direct result of having an in- form trio — Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli — at the top of India’s batting order of late.

The problem has been acute at number four with Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Lokesh Rahul and Dinesh Karthik being trialled at the crucial spot and found inadequate.

Rayudu’s second 50- plus score in four matches against West Indies has filled Kohli with optimism he may not need to fret over the issue anymore.

“Rayudu has taken his opportunity with both hands,” Kohli said after the team’s victory in the fourth one- dayer against West Indies in Mumbai.

“We need to back him till the World Cup and give him more confidence. He is feeling good about his game and he is a very confident man.”

Rayudu exhibited both sides of his batting in his 211- run stand with Rohit on Monday, first playing second fiddle to his partner and then using the long handle to good effect in his brilliantly paced knock of 100.

In the end, he matched Rohit’s four sixes and also reached the 50 and 100 marks in fewer balls than his partner.

“He reads the game really well, so we are happy that someone with intelligence is batting at number four,” Kohli said.