ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Buoyant West Indies have their sights fixed on only their fourth series win in seven years but are braced for a backlash from a smarting Sri Lanka, in the second One-Day International set to bowl off today.
The Caribbean side dominated the visitors in the opening game on Wednesday to come away with an eight-wicket victory and are aware that another favourable result at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, will go a long way in erasing recent bitter memories.
However, cognizant they also won the opening Twenty20 International in the recent series before Sri Lanka hit back in the second, vice-captain Shai Hope said Thursday it was important the home side made the necessary improvements so there was no false sense of security.
“We need to focus on those things and highlight them in whatever meetings and discussion we have and we must not be complacent,” said the elegant right-hander, whose classy 110 in the opener proved the deciding factor.
“We pretty much played one of the best games that we have played in a while, especially with the nucleus of the team coming back together after such a long time, and it is about identifying things that we can improve upon.
“We expect [Sri Lanka] to come back a lot stronger than they did in the first game, so we need to make sure that we are ready for anything they throw at us. We will need to adapt as fast as we can.
“The main thing is not to be complacent and relax because we won the first game, so it is going to happen again.
“No … cricket does not play that way. Cricket is played on the day and we have to make sure we come out with all guns blazing and take a 2-0 lead.” Hope’s return following a year away from ODIs was a calming influence for a side whose batting has been suspect in recent times.
More significantly, the 27-year-old style has been in stark contrast to the power-hitters like Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran and captain Kieron Pollard, and has ensured West Indies have not been one dimensional.
Criticised in the past for their inability to rotate the strike, Hope said it was important West Indies batsmen continued to make use of this vital aspect of their game in order to eliminate the high dot ball percentage.
“We always look at ourselves as power-hitters and ball-beaters but there is so much more to our game that we can achieve if we can merge the two approaches,” he explained.
“If we can limit the dot-balls and score off the boundary balls that come along, then we can have a lot more big totals and consistently.
“We have been working on picking up those singles and other scoring options and making sure we have a clear mind about how we are going to play a particular bowler to get those singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over.”
Perhaps one of the more pleasing aspects of the West Indies’ performance in the last ODI was their bowling, with the combination of pace and spin proving disciplined in their approach.
With Sri Lanka cantering on 105 without loss, the Windies hit back to bowl the visitors out for 232 – claiming the last nine wickets for 127 runs.
Hope said West Indies were keen on preventing Sri Lanka from getting off to another strong start by taking wickets early on.
“That is something we want to improve upon as a unit. We all know early wickets will peg back any team so having looked at the stats and seeing where we do 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 it may not always go our way.
“But the key is to make sure that we stay within the game plan or whatever is working 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 Thursday to deal with a family matter.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), 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, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.