Windies get a boost with Dutch rout
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WEST Indies have their leading fast bowler firing, its top batsmen back in form and team talisman Dwayne Bravo inspiring it from the sidelines as they head for a crucial World Cup match against Bangladesh.
The meeting in Mirpur on Friday could decide whether the West Indians or co-host Bangladesh follow likely qualifiers India, England and South Africa into the quarterfinals from Group B.
Ahead of that match, a dominant show against Netherlands on Monday provided the perfect boost for West Indies, which had lost their previous eight ODIs before a resounding response with its 215-run rout of the Dutch.
Pace man Kemar Roach claimed a hat-trick in his career-best 6-27, and Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and power hitter Kieron Pollard made half-centuries to put the team on track again.
A revved up Roach is up for the challenge after his demolition act on the Dutch and man-of-the-match performance at New Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
"This match is a good preparation for Bangladesh," Roach said. "It's got us confident and on a high. Bangladesh are an improving team but we are better than them so we are going to go there and win."
It's not the knockout stage yet, but West Indies could already be playing for their World Cup survival with India and England still to play.
The Windies started the tournament with a seven-wicket loss to South Africa, when Bravo got injured, and desperately needed to end their poor run of form and luck against a Netherlands team viewed as a dangerous underdog. They did so, responding with a dominant allround performance.
The meeting in Mirpur on Friday could decide whether the West Indians or co-host Bangladesh follow likely qualifiers India, England and South Africa into the quarterfinals from Group B.
Ahead of that match, a dominant show against Netherlands on Monday provided the perfect boost for West Indies, which had lost their previous eight ODIs before a resounding response with its 215-run rout of the Dutch.
Pace man Kemar Roach claimed a hat-trick in his career-best 6-27, and Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and power hitter Kieron Pollard made half-centuries to put the team on track again.
A revved up Roach is up for the challenge after his demolition act on the Dutch and man-of-the-match performance at New Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
"This match is a good preparation for Bangladesh," Roach said. "It's got us confident and on a high. Bangladesh are an improving team but we are better than them so we are going to go there and win."
It's not the knockout stage yet, but West Indies could already be playing for their World Cup survival with India and England still to play.
The Windies started the tournament with a seven-wicket loss to South Africa, when Bravo got injured, and desperately needed to end their poor run of form and luck against a Netherlands team viewed as a dangerous underdog. They did so, responding with a dominant allround performance.
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