Coach Deitz calls for improved bowling performance

VADODARA, India (CMC):

West Indies Women head coach Shane Deitz has expressed his disappointment with the bowling performance of the regional team following two heavy losses to India in their ongoing One Day International series.

In the opening match on Sunday, India racked up 314 for nine from their 50 overs, their second highest total at home in a ODI, on their way to handing West Indies their worst ODI defeat by an embarrassing 211-runs.

India returned on Tuesday to amass 358 for five, their joint-highest ODI score, to win by 115 runs and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Speaking during a post-match press conference, Deitz conceded that the bowling in the two ODIs was below par.

“[Our bowling] has been very disappointing. The last few months leading up to the World Cup, bowling was a real strength of ours.

“We haven’t been able to bowl consistent lines and lengths or bowl to a field and on the good wickets here with fast outfields, you’ve got to be able to cut off one side of the field and be able to bowl to a field. We haven’t been able to do that,” Deitz explained.

“We’ve been leaking two bad balls an over going for four minimum and the Indian team have batted really well, punished anything we’ve missed.

“Obviously, Chinelle Henry is our key fast bowler and she’s been out injured which has been a big miss for us. We haven’t been able to get wickets in the power play,” he added.

Despite having already lost the series, Deitz said it was important that the West Indies, who are currently ranked ninth in the ICC Women’s Championship table, finish the series strongly.

He pointed out that there were still valuable points at stake, with only the top six teams guaranteed a place at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup scheduled for August to September in India.

“We’ve got one more game so it’s a chance for us the players to step up and get a win.

“Automatic qualification to the World Cup has got to be our goal,” Deitz said.