Windies captain hails team’s progress

Windies captain hails team’s progress
Associated Press / Arnulfo Franco, File

West Indies Captain Jason Holder has hailed the progress of the regional team in the just concluded Tri-Nation Series, saying the lowly ranked side had defied the expectations of many.

The West Indies team which is ranked eighth in One-Day Internationals, entered the series against world champions Australia and the number three-ranked South Africa as the underdogs.

Holder told a press conference after his side lost to Australia by 58 runs in the final match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados he believes it had much to be proud of.

He said at the start of the tour, many people did not expect the team to reach this final.

“People expected South Africa and Australia to just roll over us,” he said adding, “that credit must go to the way we fought throughout the entire series and to put ourselves in a position to play the final was just tremendous.”

Holder said their best performance came against South Africa, on Friday, June 24, piled up 285 runs and bundled out their opponents for 185.

Australian Captain Steve Smith said the West Indies will be able to take away a lot from the series because they scrapped well against the number one and number three teams.

“Playing against them was not easy and I must say they played good cricket. They fought well,” he said.

Australia won the tournament after dismissing the West Indies for 212 in reply to their 270 for 9.

Meanwhile, Holder has moved into the top 20 of the One-Day International rankings for the first time in his career, following strong performances during the just concluded Tri-Nation Series.

The 24 year-old fast bowler picked up seven wickets in as many games in the tournament ,as West Indies reach the finals before losing to Australia.

He jumped four places to 20th and is just one of two West Indies bowlers inside the top 20, with mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine the other.

Narine grabbed ll wickets during the tournament in what was his first ODI series since he was banned from bowling last November because of an illegal action.