The ICC Males’s Twenty20 World Cup for the West Indies really begins Wednesday as they face New Zealand of their third Group C match.
The 2 groups will conflict below the lights on the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in south Trinidad, with the Caribbean aspect aiming for his or her third successive win. This victory would safe their spot within the Tremendous Eight quarter-finals and go away the Black Caps getting ready to elimination from the event.
The West Indies entered the event with confidence, securing a five-wicket win in opposition to Papua New Guinea and a commanding 134-run victory in opposition to Uganda on the Guyana Nationwide Stadium. Nonetheless, captain Rovman Powell acknowledged that New Zealand presents a considerably harder problem.
“I believe we’re fairly assured, and the fellows have been enjoying some actually good cricket,” Powell said at a pre-match press convention. “New Zealand will pose completely different challenges from our first two opponents, however we’re specializing in ourselves, and as soon as we play good cricket, we must be okay.”
A good group draw
Some might argue that the West Indies benefited from a positive group draw, particularly after Afghanistan’s shock victory over New Zealand, the place the Black Caps have been bowled out for 84 in Guyana. This consequence supplied the West Indies with a transparent path to complete above New Zealand within the group standings.
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Powell, nonetheless, believes that the West Indies’ current performances over the previous 15 months validate their capabilities. “I believe if you happen to have a look at the final yr or so, we have now performed good T20 cricket, so it’s only a continuation of us doing that although it’s a World Cup,” he stated. “The blokes have achieved a whole lot of laborious work coming into this World Cup, so hopefully, we will present the advantages of that arduous work.”
In search of an unprecedented third world T20 title, the West Indies intention to realize this on dwelling soil, a feat by no means completed earlier than. Powell emphasised that the group is managing the excessive expectations that include such an endeavor. “I believe the expectations are on the again of us enjoying good T20 cricket, which has resulted in us being ranked quantity 4 on this planet now,” he famous. “It’s for us to proceed to handle these expectations, and I believe the fellows have achieved that.”
Powell additionally highlighted the importance of the BLCA as a venue, the place the West Indies secured a series-clinching 3-2 win in opposition to England final December. “These performances [against England last year] give us confidence in figuring out that it’s our circumstances, and we perceive our circumstances, and the outcomes have gone our manner on the BLCA,” stated Powell. “I believe that’s extra confidence for us that they’ve ready completely different surfaces, and we have now performed on them and did properly, so that’s good for us as a group.”
