Holder blames bowlers for Ireland defeat
West Indies captain Jason Holder has put the blame on his bowlers, after they went down by four wickets to minnows Ireland in their first World Cup match at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on Monday.
The West Indies, who lost the toss and were inserted by the Irish, recovered from a shaky start to post a more than competitive total of 304 for seven, on the back of a century from Lendl Simmons, batting at number six, and a Darren Sammy fifty.
In the run-chase Ireland were always ahead of the required rate, with top-order batsmen Ed Joyce, Paul Stirling and Niall O'Brien recording half-centuries at a quick tempo to guide them to victory.
Even though paceman Jerome Taylor took three wickets, he was the most expensive bowler in the Windies attack, conceding 71 runs, one ball short of nine overs.
Holder said: "We tried to be better with our bowling at the Powerplay and the death overs, but we weren't able to pull them back. I think we just need to be a bit more precise when we set fields. We are just giving away too many boundaries during the middle overs.
"It was a tough loss and obviously putting up 300 should have been enough, but it wasn't today. They came and added impetus for us (Lendl and Sammy) towards the end, but it wasn't enough."
The West Indies' next match in the global tournament is against Pakistan at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
Latest
-
NewsProteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
NewsSmith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
NewsEngland warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
NewsJack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
NewsJonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
NewsHeather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
NewsClaire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
NewsPooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
NewsAndrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.
-
NewsZak Crawley out to prove he is no ‘one-hit wonder’ in Sri Lanka
The Kent batsman, 22, hit a magnificent 267 against Pakistan on his previous England appearance in August.