West Indies focused on momentum – Powell

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

WITH WEST Indies already qualified for the Super Eights, captain Rovman Powell says today’s final group stage game against Afghanistan represents a chance for the unbeaten home side to sustain their momentum ahead of the all-important second round of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

The unbeaten co-hosts have romped through Group C with wins against Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and New Zealand and lie second on six points, only behind Afghanistan due to an inferior net run rate.

Powell said the game provides an opportunity for his batsmen, especially, to find their footing following a lukewarm effort in the showpiece in the opening games.

“All of us as batters have [had] a very, very subtle start to the World Cup, but tomorrow presents an opportunity here at the Daren Sammy Stadium for us as batters to get it right – it’s also a better opportunity on a better wicket,” Powell told reporters yesterday.

“Just like myself and Johnson Charles, we’re definitely looking forward to it. We know that Johnson is definitely a match winner for us, so we’ll see how best as possible we go tomorrow.”

He added: “Momentum is a very important word for us. It’s important for us to keep playing good cricket and consistent cricket.

“After this game, the Super Eights is very, very important, so you want players going into the Super Eights with good performances. You want to go in the Super Eights as a team winning.

“So that’s definitely something that we’re taking seriously and not taking nothing for granted even though we have qualified for the Super Eights already.

OPPORTUNITY

“It’s an opportunity for us to also put on a display for the St Lucians that will come out tomorrow to watch us play World Cup cricket.”

Afghanistan have also been stellar in the tournament to date, crushing Uganda, stunning New Zealand before making light work of Papua New Guinea last Thursday in Trinidad.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the tournament’s leading batsman with 167 runs, and left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi has claimed 12 wickets to lead the bowling charts, reiterating the quality of Afghanistan’s performances.

With the Asian side at the top of their game, Powell said the 7:30 p.m. fixture was the ideal test for his side heading into the second round.

“Obviously, it’s a top-of-the-table clash. Afghanistan have been playing good T20 cricket and consistent T20 cricket,” said the Jamaican.

“They have a lot of match winners, so it’s something that we have to come with our best game.

“As I said before, they’re playing good T20 cricket, so it’s an opportunity for us to play against another world-class side. [It is] very good practice going into the Super Eight games.”

TOURNAMENT

Much discussion has surrounded the subpar nature of the pitches in the tournament, but the Daren Sammy Stadium served up excellent conditions for batsmen on Saturday in Australia’s six-wicket victory over Scotland, which saw them chase down a target of 180.

And Powell said West Indies were looking forward to exploiting the good batting conditions.

“When we [looked at] the schedule, all the batters were excited to come to St Lucia,” Powell said.

“Traditionally, St Lucia [has] … been a place where batters like to bat, but it’s also an opportunity for bowlers to bowl good spells here, especially the fast bowlers.

“We think that St.= Lucia offers 60/40 in terms of, from a batting perspective, to bowl, and so, if you are a bowler, or if you are a batter, you definitely can get something out of the St Lucia wicket.”

West Indies already have a testing Super Eight schedule in front of them, taking on England next Wednesday in St Lucia, travelling to Barbados to face United States two days later, before clashing with South Africa in Antigua next Sunday.