ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC –Captain Dwayne Bravo has appealed for more runs when West Indies take on England in the third and deciding One- Day International (ODI) here today.
England leveled the series one all after holding their nerve to clinch a three wicket win over West Indies in the second ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday. Bravo says while he was pleased with the energy and fighting spirited of his team mates during the second ODI more runs on the board will work in the Windies favour in light of the strength of their bowling. “I think we definitely need to bat better,” said Bravo in a pre game news conference Tuesday.
“If we bat better then we can put a better total on the board. The last game obviously was not a winning total but I was encouraged by the energy and the fighting spirit”. West Indies’ top four, without the injured Chris Gayle, have struggled against England spinners who have been able to take early wickets and set the innings back. Lendl Simmons has been the key batsmen holding the innings together during the first two ODIs while Sunil Narine has consistently troubled the English batsmen. Bravo, who scored an unbeaten 87, to lead West Indies to victory in the first ODI last Friday, says spinner Sunil Narine has a key role on Wednesday but would have little value if a formidable total is not posted. “He is a bowler that most teams struggle to play with. He is a handful. Happy to have him in our squad but at the same time we cant leave it all on him,” said Bravo. “It’s a total team effort and if we do not have enough runs Narine is of no value. We have to put runs on the board to actually give him the opportunity so he can actually deliver for us”.
Both matches have been keenly contested with West Indies prevailing by 15 runs in the opener while England rebounded to force a three wicket win on Sunday. Wednesday’s decider is the third game in a row on the same pitch which some commentators have described as ‘tired’ while expecting ‘more spin’ and ‘less bounce’. “I have no complains about the surface I think the conditions have been good for cricket,” Bravo told reporters. “We have worked very hard and prepared well so hopefully we can do good tomorrow (Wednesday) and win the series”.
