ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Buoyant West Indies stand on their fourth-straight win in seven years but are stunned for a rebound by an astute Sri Lanka, in today’s second one-day International program to bowl.
The Caribbean side dominated the visitors in Wednesday’s opening match to come away with an eight-wicket victory and are aware that another favorable result at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, will go a long way in eradicating recent bitter memories .
However, aware that they had also won the opening Twenty20 International in the recent series before Sri Lanka hit back in second, Lieutenant Shai Hope said on Thursday that it was important for the home team to make the improvements so necessary that there was no false sense of security.
“We need to focus on those things and highlight them in whatever meetings and discussions we have and we should not be complacent,” said the elegant right-hand man, whose class 110 at the opener proved the deciding factor.
“We played one of the best games we’ve played in a long time, especially with the core of the team coming back together after such a long time, and it’s about identifying things we can improve on them.
“We are waiting [Sri Lanka] to come back much stronger than they did in the first game, so we need to make sure we are ready for anything they throw at us. We will need to adapt as quickly as we can.
“The main thing is not to get complacent and relaxed because we won the first game, so it’s going to happen again.
“No… cricket doesn’t play that way. Cricket is played on the day and we have to make sure we come out with all guns firing and take a 2-0 lead. ”Hope’s return following a year away from ODIs was a calming influence on a side whose batting has been questioned recently.
More significantly, the 27-year-old’s style has been in stark contrast to power hitters like Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran and captain Kieron Pollard, and has ensured that the West Indies have not been one dimensional.
Previously criticized for their inability to rotate the strike, Hope said it is important that West Indies batters continue to use this vital aspect of their game to eliminate the high dot ball percentage.
“We always look at ourselves as power beaters and ball beaters but there is so much more to our game that we can achieve if we can combine the two approaches,” he explained.
“If we can limit the dot balls and score off the coming end balls, then we can get a lot more big and consistent totals.
“We’ve been working on raising those singles and other scoring options and making sure we have a clear idea of how we’re going to play a specific bowler to get those singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over. ”
Perhaps one of the more enjoyable aspects of West Indies performance in the last ODI was their bowling, with the combination of speed and spin being disciplined in their approach.
With Sri Lanka singling at 105 without a loss, the Windies hit back to bowl the visitors out for 232 – claiming the last nine wickets for 127 runs.
Hope said the West Indies were keen to prevent Sri Lanka from making another strong start by winning wickets early.
“That’s something we want to improve on as a unit. We all know that early wickets will peg any team back so after looking at the statistics and seeing where we need to improve, then we can put some things in place, ”he stressed.
“Again, cricket is a game you have to play on the day and no matter what plan you have for the opposition, they may still be good enough to deal with it and may not will always go our way.
“But the key is to make sure we stay within the game plan or whatever works and if we can’t take wickets, we have to limit the runs.”
Sri Lanka will be without their most experienced ODI player in Angelo Mathews who returned home on Thursday to deal with a family matter.
SQUARE:
WEST INDUSTRIES – Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (lieutenant), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair.
SRI LANKA – Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilake, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando. Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.