Sports
Victory shows Windies can stack up: Skipper Holder
Port Elizabeth (South Africa): Captain Jason Holder believes the West Indies’ triumph in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa was a reminder it can compete strongly with top sides in the world.
Trailing 0-3 in the series, the West Indies Sunday bounced back to beat the Proteas by one wicket at St. George’s Park, after chasing down 263 with nine balls to spare, as per reports.
“We have known it from the start, that we have the ability to win cricket games. It’s just one or two mistakes that have cost us games – losing wickets in clusters, a dropped chance or even one or two big overs when we bowled,” said Holder Monday.
“It’s all about putting together the complete game. Fortunately … we were able to get over the line even though I don’t think we played the complete the game in that we let it get down to number 11.
“Having said that, it’s just good to get across the line, it does a lot for our morale.”
Holder was the best bowler with four for 53 as the West Indies strung together a disciplined performance to limit the Proteas to 262 for eight, despite David Miller’s splendid unbeaten 130.
The West Indies then fought their way out of trouble thanks to half-centuries from Andre Russell (64 not out), Marlon Samuels (68) and Darren Sammy (51).
“I’m obviously very pleased. It’s been a tough tour so far and we’ve already lost the series but as I said before, it’s just about salvaging some pride and I was just very pleased to see how the guys came out and won this game …,” Holder pointed out.
“Being three-nil down is not a good note but it was very fitting how the guys came out to this game and performed. They were always up for it, the attitude was very good.
“We just had a little blemishes in the field here and there but apart from that, I thought we played a really good game of cricket.”
Home
Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.