With the West Indies already securing their spot within the Tremendous Eights, captain Rovman Powell emphasised the significance of sustaining their momentum as they face Afghanistan of their remaining group stage match Monday.
The unbeaten co-hosts have cruised by means of Group C with victories over Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and New Zealand, at present mendacity second with six factors, simply behind Afghanistan resulting from a decrease web run fee.
Powell highlighted that this match presents a invaluable alternative for the batsmen to solidify their kind forward of the essential second spherical of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
“All of us as batters have [had] a really, very refined begin to the World Cup, however tomorrow presents a chance right here on the Daren Sammy Stadium for us as batters to get it proper – it’s additionally a greater alternative on a greater wicket,” Powell instructed reporters yesterday.
Momentum is an important phrase for us
“Identical to myself and Johnson Charles, we’re undoubtedly wanting ahead to it. We all know that Johnson is unquestionably a match-winner for us, so we’ll see how greatest as doable we go tomorrow.”
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He added, “Momentum is an important phrase for us. It’s necessary for us to maintain taking part in good cricket and constant cricket. After this recreation, the Tremendous Eights could be very, crucial, so that you need gamers going into the Tremendous Eights with good performances. You wish to go within the Tremendous Eights as a group profitable.”
Powell reiterated that regardless of already qualifying for the Tremendous Eights, the group just isn’t taking this match frivolously.
“It’s a chance for us to additionally placed on a show for the St Lucians that may come out tomorrow to look at us play World Cup cricket,” he stated.
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Afghanistan has additionally been spectacular within the event, crushing Uganda, gorgeous New Zealand, and making gentle work of Papua New Guinea final Thursday in Trinidad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the event’s main batsman with 167 runs, and left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi tops the bowling charts with 12 wickets.
Afghanistan on the prime of their recreation
With Afghanistan on the prime of their recreation, Powell acknowledged that the 7:30 p.m. fixture is the proper check for his facet earlier than the second spherical.
“Clearly, it’s a top-of-the-table conflict. Afghanistan have been taking part in good T20 cricket and constant T20 cricket,” stated the Jamaican. “They’ve numerous match winners, so it’s one thing that we’ve got to come back with our greatest recreation. [It is] excellent apply going into the Tremendous Eight video games.”
The subpar nature of the pitches within the event has been a subject of a lot dialogue, however the Daren Sammy Stadium offered glorious circumstances for batsmen on Saturday in Australia’s six-wicket victory over Scotland, which noticed them chase down a goal of 180.
Powell stated the West Indies have been wanting ahead to exploiting the nice batting circumstances.
“After we [looked at] the schedule, all of the batters have been excited to come back to St Lucia,” Powell stated. “Historically, St Lucia [has] … been a spot the place batters prefer to bat, nevertheless it’s additionally a chance for bowlers to bowl good spells right here, particularly the quick bowlers. We expect that St. Lucia affords 60/40 by way of, from a batting perspective, to bowl, and so, if you’re a bowler, or if you’re a batter, you undoubtedly can get one thing out of the St Lucia wicket.”
The West Indies have a difficult Tremendous Eight schedule forward, beginning with a match towards England subsequent Wednesday in St Lucia, adopted by a recreation towards the USA in Barbados two days later, and culminating with a conflict towards South Africa in Antigua subsequent Sunday.
