CENTURION, South Africa, CMC- West Indies play South Africa in the fifth and final One Day International (ODI) match here today eager to prove that their victory in the fourth ODI was no fluke and with dreams of avenging their series defeat when the two teams meet in next month’s World CupWest Indies, who were blown away in the first three matches to concede the series, stormed back in sensational fashion to beat South Africa in the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
Another victory could help erase the disappointment of back to back defeats against the Proteas and bolster their confidence going into the World Cup a little over two weeks from now.
“I don’t think I have had a World Cup where South Africa have not been favourites and this time it’s no different,” said Sammy.
“But in a World Cup if you play three good matches in the first round, you are into the knockout stages and with that, cricket is played on the day and anything is possible.”
The Caribbean men would be encouraged by their victory in the last match, recovering from 73 for five as Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy added 93 before allrounder Andre Russell scored 64 not out off 40 balls to stun the homeside with nine deliveries and a wicket in hand.
“We had a meeting amongst ourselves and guys laid everything on the table,” said Sammy in reference to their consecutive defeats.
“The captain asked us to show some pride and man up and we did that in the fourth game”.
South Africa and West Indies will be looking to finish the series on a high with both teams likely to use the final game as a dress rehearsal since it will be their last match before the all-important ICC cricket World Cup.
“We are still a bunch of confident guys. Obviously you want to win matches and series but the purpose here was to build for the World Cup,” said the allrounder.
“I was telling the guys in the change-room, I don’t mind a series loss if we beat South Africa in the World Cup. That would be the perfect response”.
West Indies are likely to go into the game with an unchanged team since there are still injury concerns to Lendl Simmons (finger), and Sulieman Benn (back).
Pace spearhead Jerome Taylor’s inclusion may still be in doubt after he was rested for the fourth ODI and with both Carlos Brathwaite and Sheldon Cottrell giving decent accounts of themselves.
South Africa may bring back the experienced quartet of Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn, all of whom were rested for the Port Elizabeth game.
Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s first choice wicketkeeper batsman, is set to make his comeback just five weeks after tearing his ankle ligaments.
The two teams meet on February 27 and according to the former captain, they will have to deal with different expectations.
“When it comes to the World Cup, it’s a different atmosphere, a different venue and more pressure. We all know when it comes to World Cup, once we get to knockout stages we tend to move on. Hopefully we can do something special,” he said.
“The West Indies people need us to do something special.”