‘Win both Powerplays’

HYDERABAD, India (CMC):

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has called on his players to be more consistent in the Powerplay ahead of their crucial fourth Twenty20 International against India today.

Following their 14-run defeat in Sunday’s third T20I, which handed India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, the West Indies now face a must-win situation at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference yesterday, Sammy said India’s performance in the Powerplay proved to be the decisive factor in the previous match.

He noted that although the Windies bowlers restricted the home side to fewer than 10 runs per over for 14 overs of the innings, India still managed to post a competitive total after blasting 87 runs from the first six overs.

“I thought the difference in the game that prevented us from going 2-1 up in the series was the Powerplay. Minus the Powerplay, we restricted India to under 10 [runs an over] in the other three phases - 7-10, 11-15, and then in the backend.

“But they did so much damage up front in the Powerplay, where they went almost 14 and a half runs an over. That kind of gave them the cushion. So even though we bowled them out, they got a total that was defendable,” Sammy explained.

“When we look at the series, our batting has matched them. We’ve definitely out-sixed them in the games, so for us it’s about controlling that Powerplay because so far, we’ve been having to pull back the game every single time. So controlling that Powerplay is an area that we could work on, and we’ve seen that once outside the Powerplay, we find ways to keep the scoring down.

“Sometimes on a surface, if it’s a 220 wicket, then you know it’s 11 runs an over, so if you’re going at 10, it’s still good on the surface. So I think it’s an area we really have to start well, and to beat India, you really have to win both Powerplays with bat and with ball,” he added.