West Indies kicked off their T20 World Cup marketing campaign with a hard-fought 5-wicket victory over PNG, however there have been extra questions than solutions within the co-hosts’ camp after a far-from-convincing efficiency. Riding on Chase’s Heroics Chasing a modest 137 to win, the West Indies batting lineup flattered to deceive towards PNG’s disciplined bowling assault. The two-time T20 world champions discovered themselves in a precarious place at 98/5 within the sixteenth over earlier than Roston Chase performed a match-winning knock of 42* off 27 balls to information them throughout the road.
Chase’s calm manner and calculated strokeplay was the distinction between the 2 sides. The all-rounder paced his innings to perfection, discovering the boundaries when required whereas working laborious between the wickets. His two towering sixes within the nineteenth over successfully sealed PNG’s destiny.
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Bowling Causes Concern
While the bowlers ultimately bought the job accomplished, there have been loads of areas of concern for the West Indies assume tank. PNG’s 136/8 was a minimum of “10-15 runs too many” in response to captain Rovman Powell.
The chief architect of that complete was opener Sese Bau, whose affected person 51 off 48 balls gave PNG a platform to assault within the demise overs. Kiplin Doriga’s cameo of 27* off simply 14 balls compounded the West Indies’ woes because the PNG decrease order plundered 44 runs within the final 5 overs.
Expensive Spells
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph had an off day, leaking 37 runs in his 4 overs with out taking a wicket. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie additionally went for over 8 an over. In distinction, the West Indies’ finger spinners Akeal Hosein and Chase have been economical, combining for 1/34 in 8 overs.
Post-Game Blame Game
There was loads of finger pointing within the West Indian camp after the nerve-wracking win, with captain Powell subtly criticizing his bowlers’ lack of self-discipline. “Credit to PNG, they played smartly. But I think we gave away 10-15 runs too many with the ball,” he remarked.
Powell was stuffed with reward for Chase’s batting heroics that salvaged the win, however made it clear that enhancements are wanted throughout all three departments. “We can certainly be better with bat, ball and in the field moving forward,” he careworn.
Rankings at Stake
For the West Indies, a upset loss to an affiliate nation like PNG may have been catastrophic for his or her T20 World Cup prospects and ICC rankings. They at the moment sit sixth on the T20I staff rankings, however one other slip up towards a minnow may see them plummet down the desk.
The nervy win will function a wake-up name forward of their subsequent recreation towards Uganda on June ninth. With larger challenges looming within the type of England, India and Pakistan, the two-time champions can ill-afford any extra lapses within the coming days.
