‘I’ve been working for this my entire life’

WEST INDIES all-rounder Yannic Cariah has started life as a regional player very well.

A batting all-rounder, Cariah first got a chance in the regional side's ongoing One-Day International series against New Zealand in Barbados.

Cariah played an integral role with the ball in West Indies' first victory against the Kiwi's on Wednesday.

The West Indies won by five wickets, with Cariah bagging 1-49 from nine overs.

Then, on Friday, Cariah almost took West Indies to a famous victory, first with a miserly seven overs that cost just 26 runs, then with a brave 52 that pulled the West Indies from a certain defeat to a situation where the Black Caps had to have been scared, at least for a moment, as the batsman, along with Alzarri Joseph (49), took the West Indies from 72-8 to 157-9.

While the innings fell away with Cariah being last man out in the 36th over for 161, still some 50 runs shy of their target, the performance was worthy of praise.

Cariah, though, is taking it in stride and won't lose sight of the focus he has cultivated on his way to a belated West Indies call-up.

Express myself

“I've been working for this my entire life, so all the belief is here and I just trust the work I put in and just go and play cricket. I am a cricketer and I just go out there and express myself in the middle,” said the 30-year-old.

A laser-like focus was veiled in all the answers Cariah gave in that post-game press conference.

“It was a great experience getting my first 50. Unfortunately, I didn't get the victory I wanted to for the West Indies.

“I always believed that we could still get the runs because I thought the wicket was nice to bat on with the dew factor, but we have to learn from our mistakes and move on to the next game,” Cariah insisted, quickly moving on from the elation of a half-century on debut with the bat to what the West Indies must do.

Speaking of what the West Indies must do, according to Cariah, the influence of New Zealand bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee must be negated if the West Indies are to take the series now tied at 1-1.

“I think we need to bat the first 10 overs from Southee and Boult and keep them out of the game in the wickets column and we will be fine,” said Cariah.

The all-rounder does not think there needs to be huge adjustments from him now that he is playing on a bigger stage, saying that, while there was a different level of intensity in international cricket, the game was still a game between bat and ball.

“I think it is just the intensity. The opponents remain the same. You still have to watch the ball, you still have to bowl good lengths, and you still have to understand your conditions and understand your opponents. The bowlers might hit the mark more often than not, but it is still the same process.”

The West Indies, who are playing in their final ODI that counts towards World Cup rankings, are looking for 10 points from the final game today, but also a rare series win against New Zealand.