PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite doesn’t imagine the rain delays within the drawn first Check match in opposition to South Africa saved the house facet from defeat.
Heavy showers misplaced important taking part in time on the Queen’s Park Oval, with solely 15 overs being potential on Wednesday’s first day. On the identical time, solely two hours had been possible on the penultimate day.
Chatting with media members following Sunday’s closing day, Brathwaite mentioned the Windies had been at all times optimistic about pulling off a profitable run chase.
Set 298 to win, the West Indies reached 201 for 5 earlier than each groups agreed to a attract fading gentle.
Brathwaite mentioned his troops had been constructive of their chase and believed they might have pulled it off had it not been for the rain stoppages. “It was certainly the plan. It’s simple to suppose you may simply come and defend and bat out the day, however I instructed the boys to belief the plans and totally bat in no matter it’s.
“Alick [Athanaze] confirmed it by his strategy to sweeping the ball as a result of I do know he is an efficient sweeper. And for him to exit and do it, I feel that was nice,” Brathwaite mentioned.
“…I wouldn’t say that we escaped. We had 100 runs to win and had been totally assured we might have made them if the rain didn’t fall, albeit the sport would have been slightly completely different if we didn’t have the rain breaks.
“However we had been totally assured we might get the runs, and we just about confirmed it, so we didn’t get away due to any rain,” he maintained.
Brathwaite mentioned the blokes had been in excessive spirits heading into Thursday’s second Check in Guyana.
“The extra cricket we play, the higher. While you’re taking part in a check match, you’re extra intense for longer intervals, and the extra you do it, the extra important it’s. As soon as we proceed to do this as a gaggle and also you proceed to see guys enhance, that’s how we get higher.
“The extra cricket we play in opposition to completely different opposition, I feel that’s how we are going to enhance as a staff and as batters,” the captain mentioned.
In the meantime, Athanaze, who fell simply in need of his first Check century for 92, mentioned he felt good realizing his effort helped save West Indies from defeat.
Whereas he admitted disappointment in not making it to a few figures, he mentioned the end result was extra necessary.
“The match’s end result was extra necessary than getting the hundred. I might have cherished to get 100; I’m hungry. Sadly, I didn’t get it, however no less than I’m getting nearer,” Athanaze mentioned.
“Getting runs is at all times a confidence booster for a batter. In situations like this, a recreation state of affairs the place you needed to save the Check match will do lots for a younger participant and the staff.” The house facet has gone 32 years with no Check collection win over South Africa.
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