Holder: Bowlers got it wrong against SA

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

West Indies captain Jason Holder has chided the performance of his bowlers for Wednesday's defeat to South Africa in the sixth game of the Tri-Nations Series.

The regional side went down by 139 runs at Warner Park after failing to chase down South Africa's massive 343 for four, dismissed for 204 off 38 overs.

"I don't think we bowled well. It's as simple as that. The pitch was better than in the last game, but having said that, I don't think we bowled particularly well, especially in the first powerplay," said Holder.

"I thought Jerome (Taylor) bowled reasonably well in the first powerplay, but myself, [I] was totally off the mark, and we paid for it.

"Credit must go to the way Hashim Amla played. I thought he was brilliant, but having said that, I don't think we [bowled to him] the very best."

The right-handed Amla smashed 110 off 99 deliveries in an opening stand of 182 with Quinton de Kock, who stroked 71.

Faf du Plessis then blasted a 50-ball, unbeaten 73 and anchored a 60-run, third-wicket stand, with Chris Morris (40) before adding a further 64 for the fourth wicket with captain AB de Villiers (27), as South Africa finished strongly.

"They got 340-odd. At the beginning of the game, you would've probably taken 280, maybe 300 knowing the pitch here and the dimensions of the ground. I thought they [got] 40, 50 runs too many, and we paid for it in the end," Holder said.

Heading into the final leg, South Africa lead the standings with ten points, one ahead of Australia, with West Indies bottom on eight points.

West Indies clash with Australia next Tuesday at Kensington Oval and then take on South Africa again three days later at the same venue, and Holder said it was important to win both games.

"For all three teams, it's a must-win. The points table is still very close and whoever wins the two games there in Barbados are guaranteed a spot in the finals," he said.