“Being under pressure and having the nerve and the calm and the cricket smarts to do what it takes to come out over the line,” is what pleased head coach Daren Sammy the most about West Indies‘ series-clinching five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the deciding T20I in Kingston on Sunday.
After Sri Lanka had scored 169, West Indies were going nowhere three-quarters of the way in the chase, the scoreboard reading 110 for 4 after 16 overs, still 60 to get in four overs. That’s when Sherfane Rutherford and Rovman Powell upped the ante, and Jason Holder crashed three sixes in the 19th over, bowled by Dushmantha Chameera, to all but finish the job.
“I wasn’t too nervous. I was just hoping that we get over the line. But today it was a lot more thoughtful and smart cricket, especially by Rovman and Sherfane and followed by Jason Holder,” Sammy told reporters after the match at Sabina Park, before talking up Shamar Joseph, who returned a career-best 5 for 33 in the first half. “But I think the game was set up upfront when we bowled. Shamar Joseph, he continues to impress. So we needed a victory. It’s been a while since we won a T20 series at home in front of the Jamaican fans. I know they wanted a victory for us. So I’m glad that we could finish the series on a high.”
The last time West Indies won a bilateral T20I series at home was in August 2024, when they beat South Africa 3-0.
“I remember just before World Cup 2024, we played South Africa here [in May 2024]. That was probably the first time we played cricket in years in Sabina. But you could see, I always tell the guys, we have to give the Sabina fans something to shout about,” Sammy said. “They are quite knowledgeable about the game. And if there’s one thing I appreciate, the announcer, every time it seems like the opposition is getting the better of us, he tries to, you know, rile up the crowd to be a 12th person, a 12th man for us, and give the guys some sort of confidence. It’s a place that we’ve done well and the guys enjoy being here as well.”
Joseph was named the Player of the Match, and the Player of the Series, too, for his overall haul of 11 wickets – his sequence was 3 for 29, 3 for 32 and then the five-for.
“It’s exciting for me, my first five-wicket haul in T20s, you know, couldn’t ask for anything better. And also, you know, a match-winning series for our West Indies team and especially for Jamaica. You know, the support that they bring out to us is nothing more encouraging than having fans behind your back, and you know, just give you that courage to keep going,” Joseph said. “The captain [Shai Hope] always say, always be ready to come and bowl. So, it’s just you to come there and execute and be ready to go again: 11 wickets, couldn’t ask for better.”
Joseph had two big phases in the game. First, in the sixth over, he sent back Pathum Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake off successive deliveries. And then, in the last over, he had Dunith Wallalage and Chameera off the second and third balls, and Maheesh Theekshana off the last.
“I just enjoy taking wickets. That’s all I can say,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for better. You know, coming out here, that’s my job. Bowling in the death – you know, 18th over, 20th over is one of the hardest over to bowl in any T20 game. So, coming and executing and getting wickets, I enjoy it.”
He wasn’t the only player who earned praise from Sammy, though.
“Shamar stood out really well. Jason continues to lead, not only with his actual skills, but the leadership helping out the bowlers on the field. We saw how we missed his experience in the second game [the one West Indies lost],” Sammy said. “So that was good to see he continues from that. I mean, we gave some youngsters like Ackeem Auguste and Shamar Springer a couple of games. Yes, they didn’t perform the way they wanted to. But all in all, you know, getting a series win after, I think, almost two years, you know, is something to be proud of, especially after a World Cup and building for Australia 2028.
“You know, we now have to put things together, skill set players to match the conditions we’re going to find in Antigua. But most of all, being under pressure today and having the nerve and the calm and the cricket smarts to do what it takes to come out over the line. That was special.
“Still areas and skills we’ve got to develop, but it’s something that we as the coaching staff and players will continue to work on.”
West Indies play Tests and ODIs next before returning to T20Is in October when they travel to India.
ESPNCricinfo
