Familiarity with conditions a bonus, says Holder

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC):

Seasoned all-rounder Jason Holder believes familiarity with conditions here will be critical to navigating the ICC World Cup Qualifiers which bowled off on Sunday.

West Indies opened their campaign with a comfortable 39-run victory over United States, but were forced to rally following a stumbling start in bowler-friendly conditions at the Takashinga Sports Club, recovering from 14 for two in the sixth over to reach 297 all out in the final over.

“It’s tough. Obviously there’s a lot of moisture in the wicket early up. I think if you’re batting first, you just need to be a little more watchful,” said Holder, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his counter-attacking 40-ball 56 at number eight.

“There’s a bit of spongy bounce in it (pitch) and there’s obviously a bit of seam movement as well.

“So I think if you’re batting first you just have to be a little more circumspect and give yourself a really good chance and bat deep.”

West Indies were tottering on 192 for six at the end of the 36th over before Holder arrived to reinvigorate the innings in a 74-run, seventh-wicket partnership with Roston Chase, who stroked a run-a-ball 55.

Veteran Johnson Charles (66) and captain Shai Hope (54) had earlier put on 115 for the third wicket to stabilise the innings, after the Caribbean side were asked to bat.

Holder was here five years ago for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers as captain when West Indies, along with Afghanistan, secured the two available spots at the English showpiece.

Experience key

And the 31-year-old said the major takeaway from the last qualifying tournament in the African nation was the knowledge of conditions.

“It’s good to be familiar with the conditions. I think that’s the only thing I can really take,” said Holder.

“I think the last World Cup qualifiers are gone. It was good back then but I think the most important thing to understand is the conditions we’re playing in.

“I’ve played here before, I’ve played at Harare Sports Club, played in Bulawayo and I think I’ve got that experience to know how these conditions play so I think that’s the most important thing I can take from the last tournament into this one.”

Installed in Group A alongside hosts Zimbabwe, Nepal and the Netherlands, West Indies are expected to easily clinch one of the two available spots but Holder said it was important the Caribbean side remained focused.

“At the end of the day, the thing is for us to stay focused on what we need to do. We have come here to qualify and that’s what we’ve come to do,” Holder said.