BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Head coach Stuart Law says West Indies will consider giving their reserve players a run in today’s final Twenty20 International against Afghanistan, but remain keen on making a clean sweep of the series.
West Indies won the opener last Friday by six wickets at Warner Park and took an unassailable lead in the three-match series when they pulled off a 29-run victory in a rain-hit affair at the same venue on Saturday.
With the likes of uncapped pacer Ronsford Beaton yet to feature, Law said consideration would be given to exposing the untested players.
“We’ve won the series [but] that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. We have to start digging in and make sure we get that ruthless streak. Three-nil is a lot better than 2-1,” the Australian said.
“It’s an opportunity too for us to have a look at some other players. We’ve got Ronsford Beaton who’s sat on the sideline and I would like to see what he’s got out in the middle.
“[I would like] to continue to give Rovman Powell a go. He’s been travelling around with the team but has not played many games.”
He continued: “It’s nice to be in this position, the luxury you have to see the young kids. I would like to see them get out there and enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the moment.”
Powell is an extremely talented all-rounder but only played in the two games because of illness to Kieron Pollard.
As expected, West Indies have dominated the Afghans, with the Asian side showing little sign of fight in the two games so far.
They suffered a shock defeat to the ICC Associate side in last year’s T20 World Cup in India but have quickly made amends with victory in both matches in the series.
Law said while the hosts could have been more convincing in winning the opener, he was thoroughly pleased with the professional manner they had gone about their assignment.
“The first game I thought we could have been a little bit more clinical but the way the boys played and the way they responded to the challenge that we set out … we’ve done that so far,” Law explained.
“The batters in the first game probably needed to dig in and be ruthless and be not out but they came here [in the second T20] and got us off to a great start. Rain curtailed an innings where I think we were probably on target for 180 and the bowlers stood up and did a great job.
“The spinners are doing a great job – (Samuel) Badree and (Sunil) Narine and you’ve got Kesrick Williams and everyone else chipping in with wickets which is a good team performance.”