Law gives high praise to outstanding Holder

Cricket365
March 20, 2018

West Indies coach Stuart Law praised his captain Jason Holder for an outstanding bowling spell that helped that Caribbean outfit beat Zimbabwe in a crucial World Cup Qualifier in Harare on Monday.

Holder took 4-35 in 10 overs as the Windies restricted the hosts to 289 all out despite a fine century from Brendan Taylor.

The visitors then chased down the score with an over to spare, winning by four wickets to set up must-win clash against Scotland.

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Law said after the game: “Jason Holder, for the whole game, was outstanding. To only go for 35 runs in his 10, with a total of 290, is outstanding. And also picking up four wickets.

“At one stage, with Brendan Taylor there, Zimbabwe looked like getting 320, 330, 340. Our fielding was very good as well. The energy we showed was outstanding.”

The Windies made heavy weather of the run-chase towards the end after Marlon Samuels (86) and Shai Hope (76) set an excellent platform with a partnership of 135 for the third wicket.

Law continued: “Our plan was not to lose too many wickets up front, and to have wickets at the back end so we could attack.

“Marlon Samuels and Shai Hope played a brilliant partnership. It would have been nice if one of them had been there at the end to cap off a great day. We lost a few wickets towards the back end, which was a bit of kamikaze cricket at times.

“If it comes off it looks great. We were lucky to have two cool heads at the end there, Rovman Powell and Ashley Nurse, to see us over the line.”

The Windies play Scotland on Wednesday, also in Harare, with the winner guaranteed to make Sunday’s final and be assured of a place at next year’s World Cup in the UK.