Providence – As West Indies head into Thursday’s final Twenty20 International against Bangladesh in Guyana with the possibility of conditions favouring their opponents’ spinners, captain Nicholas Pooran said he has confidence in his batting unit to respond to the visitors’ attack.
Going into the match at the Guyana National Stadium (GNS) with a 1-0 lead after a win in the previous match and a wash-out in the first, Pooran said the squad was in a “good space” and hoped to get good weather to close off the series.
Steady showers forced a premature end to the first T20I last Saturday when international cricket returned to at Windsor Park in. Dominica for the first time in five years.
The hosts easily brushed aside Bangladesh in the second T20I the following day, winning by 35 runs.
With indications that the GNS pitch could be a big sluggish given the amount of rainfall in Guyana over the last two months, Pooran suggested that was not a big worry for him.
“Once you can assess conditions really fast, keep a positive mindset, anything could happen on the day,” he said on Wednesday.
“I don’t really want to think too much about Bangladesh. Yes, they have really good quality spinners, but I do believe in our batsmen, and we have the skills as well to assess on the day and get the results for the team.”
Pooran said he was pleased with the progress of the batsman from the Netherlands series into the Pakistan series and into the first match against Bangladesh.
“So I’m happy with where the team is going in terms of batting, and I just want us to keep supporting each other, cause a lot of guys are going to make mistakes, but we need to support these guys… and let them understand one game is not going to dampen their confidence,” he said.
A victory against Bangladesh will further build momentum for West Indies ahead of this year’s ICC T20I World Cup starting in October in Australia.
Pooran said it would be a major confidence booster.
Thursday’s match starts at 1:30 p.m. East Caribbean Time.
(CMC)
