The Guyana Cricket Board yesterday issued a notice that fans will be able to use their tickets from Sunday’s third T20I for today’s final clash between West Indies and Pakistan at the National Stadium, Providence.
“The Guyana Cricket Board wishes to inform the public that tickets purchased for the cricket match on Sunday, August 01, 2021, West Indies v Pakistan will be accepted for entry into the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, for the WI v Pakistan T20 match on Tuesday, August 03, 2021,” the release stated.
The release further indicated that fans will be accommodated in the Orange Stand for the match that bowls off at 11.00 hours.
Sunday’s match was curtailed by a heavy downpour that only allowed seven balls to be bowled. In that time, Andre Fletcher had already struck two sixes to see West Indies reach 15 runs without loss before the rain came.
Despite the flooded ground, Providence lived up to its reputation with the waters receding in a flash but it was not enough to have the contest resume.
In the final match, West Indies find themselves in a must-win situation to draw the series with Pakistan entering with a 1-0 lead.
West Indies could not find an answer for Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, who delighted the fully vaccinated patrons at Providence with his ability to caress the gaps and power over the boundary ropes in the second T20 after the first was also affected by the weather.
The spectators also saw the ease with which Mohammad Rizwan rotated the strike and worked the field placements as if batting on home turf.
However, West Indies did find solace with a lower order implosion. If the hosts could replicate that bowling performance early in the piece and counter Pakistan early, a series draw could be the result.
West Indies will also want their batsmen to find form and with the uncertainty of regular openers, Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis, a lot will be asked of Chris Gayle and Fletcher to deliver a platform for the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell to come in and do some damage.
Pooran had struck an impressive half century in the second match but West Indies still suffered a seven-run loss while the top order got starts and failed to convert it to big scores.
Their batsmen will also want the bowlers to fire, especially Dwayne Bravo who the conditions seem to suit with his variations.
Hayden Walsh Jr., and Akeal Hosein have been able to extract turn and bounce from the pitch and the West Indies think-tank could be tempted to bring in local off-spinner, Kevin Sinclair to work some magic.
Sinclair’s case could further be made from the exploits of Pakistan off-spinner, Mohammad Hafeez who bowled four overs for just six runs in the victory on Saturday.
Hafeez, who will turn out for local franchise, Guyana Amazon Warriors in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League, will want to deliver once again and will have the services of leg-spinners, Shadab Khan and Usman Qadir.
