West Indies leg-spinner, Hayden Walsh Jr., is calling on players to strive for consistency in the five-match T20I series against Australia.
Speaking after the rollercoaster first T20 encounter in St. Lucia Friday night, Walsh Jr., said, “The dressing room is very happy. We are really enjoying the cricket and enjoying everyone’s company so I just hope we stick to that and be consistent playing.”
Walsh Jr., played a vital role in the opening match of the series where he produced his best performance in the format, picking up figures of 3-23 to turn the match around and give the hosts an 18-run win.
Walsh Jr., who did not feature in the last two series the West Indies played, said that he was eagerly awaiting his opportunity and was really happy to come out and do his part by executing and putting the balls in the right areas.
“Personally it’s a sigh of relief. I’ve been preparing for a long while. After my mishap in Bangladesh where I tested positive for Covid, I didn’t really have a good Super50 and I’m really happy that I’m just back,” he said.
“The way I bowled you just got the feeling these guys are going to have some trouble playing me and getting the ball off the square and hitting boundaries,” Walsh Jr., said, adding, “I am so pleased, I’ve been preparing for a very long time, hardships and being out and really wanting to get back I’m just really glad that I came back and used the opportunity to do well.”
With Australia chasing 146 for victory, West Indies had an early breakthrough with Aaron Finch back in the shed with just eight runs on the board. However, the men in yellow pushed on and crossed the 100-run mark by the half way stage and only four wickets down.
But the Caribbean unit pulled out a spectacular bowling performance to bundle out the final six wickets for just 19 runs. Man-of-the-Match, Obed McCoy, continued from where he left off against South Africa with a pulsating performance of 4-26 despite going for 17 runs in his first over.
This was the first time a team failed to chase 50 runs in the final 10 overs of the match as the visitors became the first team to lose a match with the required run rate under five in the last 10 overs.
Walsh Jr., who reckoned his performance was within his top three, said that the side never lost hope and was firm in their belief that they would win the match.
With Australia 122-7 he was confident they couldn’t lose from that stage.
“I think we just kept believing and kept thinking we are always in the game. We were picking up wickets all the time so I think us picking up wickets helped,” he stated.
