Tri-Nation series: Everything to play for in must-win game

Winner of South Africa-West Indies clash qualifies for final against Australia

West Indies go into the last group game of the Tri-Nation Series against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados knowing a win will be enough to ensure they qualify for the final against Australia.

A West Indies win will see the sides tied on 12 points but the hosts will go through at South Africa’s expense as they would have won one more match than the Proteas.

The Windies were defeated by Australia by six wickets in their last match at the same venue despite scoring an impressive 282, with Marlon Samuels scoring his first-ever ODI century against the team from Down Under. However, they were undone by some superb batting by the Australian middle-order that ensured Steven Smith’s men became the first team to make it to the final and will be hoping to be a bit tighter as their bowlers continue to leak runs.



West Indies will be hoping skipper Jason Holder can recover in time for the final game, having suffered a hamstring problem against Australia that meant he could only bowl two overs.

“I strained my left hamstring, hopefully I will be ready for the next game. I’m still not sure though,” said the 24-year-old.

And the fast-bowling all-rounder knows how vital it is for his team to bounce back in the tough game against the Proteas. “It’s important to regroup going into our last game,” he said. “South Africa aren’t number two (on the ODI ICC rankings) for nothing. They’ve done well so far.”



Samuels’ century meant he has now scored centuries against all full ICC members and he has his eyes set on South Africa. “I get fired up when people say things to me. Nevertheless, We need to step up against South Africa on Friday,” he said. “I have a few friends there.”

South Africa, on the other hand, also know that they cannot afford to lose the game and skipper AB de Villiers — who saw his side’s game against Australia, his 200th ODI, washed out after just one over — has urged his players to concentrate on the task at hand.

However, he kept his cards close to his chest as far as the team’s strategy and make up for today’s match was concerned.



“It’s all about reading the situation and reading where your team’s at. There are certain mornings when I see the guys strolling around a bit, and they need a bit of a kick to get going. On other mornings, I feel the energy’s in a really good place so I just let it go and keep it low key,” he said. “It changes from day to day, and I’ll try and assess that again at training and when we arrive here that morning for that big, must-win game.”

South Africa will take heart from their bonus-point win over the Windies last time out, winning by an emphatic 139 runs after amassing 343-4 and dismissing the hosts for just 204.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2016.

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