The West Indies’ conservative batting strategy in both of their T20 World Cup warm-up matches confused Aakash Chopra.
In their first warm-up match against Pakistan, West Indies achieved just 130 runs. In their allotted 20 overs and were thrashed by seven wickets. They didn’t fare much better against Afghanistan yesterday. Scoring just 133 runs in a 190-run chase to lose by 56 runs.
“It is beyond my understanding that there have been two consecutive encounters and West Indies have played as if they are playing Test cricket. They have lost a T20 match by 56 runs and they still had five wickets in hand.” He said
Mohammad Nabi
However, The West Indies allowing Mohammad Nabi to bowl a miserly four-over session when chasing a large target perplexed the cricketer-turned-commentator.
“The bowling team gave 15 runs as extras in that. Nabi in his four-over spell picked up three wickets, bowled two maidens, and gave just two runs. I mean what is happening, someone explains at least.” Chopra observed
The West Indian batting lineup was rocked when Nabi took the wickets of Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, and Shimron Hetmyer. Afghanistan’s other wicket-takers were Naveen-ul-Haq and Karim Janat.
“Lewis – 3 runs off 6 balls, Roston Chase made 54 runs off 58 balls, Hetmyer made two runs off ten balls, Pooran did score 35 runs off 26 deliveries but Russell made 11 off 16 deliveries.” He pointed out
“My question is you lose the match by 56 runs, you have lost only five wickets and you still have five in hand, how did you lose by 56 runs? Defending champions. What exactly is happening there, is beyond my comprehension because they are playing cricket in a different way. The last match was also like this, West Indies is a strange side.” Chopra elaborated
Only Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran of the West Indies batsmen have held their own against Pakistan and Afghanistan, respectively. When the reigning champions face England in their first Super 12 match on Saturday. They will be hoping to turn things around.
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