West Indies ready to make history, says Sammy

Caribbean team ready to face-off against Sri Lanka spinners.

DHAKA: West Indies captain Darren Sammy was confident on Wednesday that his side can defend the title and achieve what no other team has done in the history of the World Twenty20.

Famous for playing a cavalier brand of cricket, the West Indies won the fourth edition of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka two years ago, and are now just two matches away from defending it as they meet Sri Lanka in the first of two semi-finals in Dhaka on Thursday.



“We left the Caribbean with that motivating factor for us,” said Sammy.

“It’s something which no team has done before and we are confident that we can do that if we play the brand of cricket we played in the last three games.”

This year, the West Indies lost their opening match to India before beating Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan in Group 2 at the Super-10 stage.

Sammy said facing Sri Lanka spinner Rangan Herath, who took an astonishing five wickets for three runs against New Zealand in Chittagong to guide his side into the semis, would not be a problem.

“The make-up of our side allows guys like Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle to go hard at the top, so we don’t mind the left-arm spinner and hopefully we won’t play him (Herath) like New Zealand did.”

Sammy said his spinners would also pose a challenge for the rival team.

“Just as spin-bowling will be a challenge for us, it will be a challenge for them as well. You are looking at the number one and two in West Indies’ bowling line up,” said Sammy of his spinners Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine, ranked one and two in international Twenty20 rankings.

Sri Lanka welcome ‘lovely’ spin headache

Sri Lanka coach Paul Farbrace said on Wednesday that left-arm spinner Rangana Herath’s magical spell against New Zealand have presented Sri Lanka with a ‘lovely headache’ ahead of the semi-final against the West Indies.

Picked ahead of spin colleague Ajantha Mendis who had proved expensive against England, Herath destroyed New Zealand in a 59-run romp in Chittagong on Monday. Farbrace conceded Herath had spun a selection dilemma after claiming five wickets for three runs in 21 balls to put Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.

“It’s a lovely headache to have,” said former Kent player at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

“We know we have got some very high-quality spin bowlers in the team. It gives us a really good headache to have. There’s been plenty discussion and there will be plenty more before the coin goes up tomorrow night I can assure you.”

Sri Lanka will have to quickly adjust to conditions in Mirpur but at least their spinners would be spared the heavy dew factor which made gripping the ball difficult in Chittagong.

“We know here the wicket will turn but again it’s about making sure we get the right pace,” said Farbrace.

“It’s not just about getting the ball to the other end. Spinners need to bowl the right pace on the right surface.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2014.

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