Bravo wants more from batsmen in last ODI

St. John’s (Antigua), March 5 (IANS/CMC) West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo wants more runs from his batsmen when they take on England in the third and deciding One-Day International (ODI) here Wednesday.

England levelled the series one-all after holding their nerve to clinch a three-wicket win in the second ODI Sunday after the West Indies won the first by 15 runs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here, reports CMC.

Bravo says while he was pleased with the energy and fighting spirit of his teammates during the second ODI, more runs on the board will work in the West Indies’ favour in light of the strength of their bowling.

“I think we definitely need to bat better,” said Bravo at a pre-game news conference Tuesday.

“If we bat better, then we can put a better total on the board. The last game obviously was not a winning total but I was encouraged by the energy and the fighting spirit.”

The West Indies’ top four, without the injured Chris Gayle, have struggled against England spinners who have been able to take early wickets and set the innings back.

Lendl Simmons has been the key batsmen holding the innings together during the first two ODIs while Sunil Narine has consistently troubled the English batsmen.

Bravo, who scored an unbeaten 87, to lead the West Indies to victory in the first ODI Friday, says spinner Sunil Narine has a key role Wednesday but would have little value if a formidable total is not posted.

“He is a bowler that most teams struggle to play, He is handful. Happy to have him in our squad, but at the same time we can’t leave it all on him,” said Bravo.

“It’s a total team effort and if we do not have enough runs Narine is of no value. We have to put runs on the board to actually give him the opportunity to deliver for us.”

Wednesday’s decider is the third game in a row on the same pitch, which some commentators described as ‘tired’. They expect it to afford ‘more spin’ and ‘less bounce’.

“I have no complaints about the surface, I think the conditions have been good for cricket,” Bravo told reporters.

“We have worked very hard and prepared well so hopefully we can do good and win the series Wednesday.”

–IANS/CMC

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