1 June 1999
Windies played true to form
Tony Becca
The West Indies' dream of winning the World Cup of cricket ended in
Edinburgh yesterday when New Zealand, after removing Scotland for
121, dashed to victory in 17.5 overs to squeeze past the Windies and
into the second round on a better net run rate.
The truth, however, is that the West Indies lost their way on the
previous day in Manchester when they skidded to defeat against
Australia.
Going into a match where victory would have guaranteed them a place
in the Super Six stage of the tournament, and with New Zealand to
play Scotland, would almost certainly have sunk Australia, the West
Indies, despite the bad luck of batting first in conditions favouring
the bowlers, batted like novices, crashed for their fourth lowest
total (110) in 372 one-day matches, and simply did not deserve to go
into the second round.
The West Indies did not deserve to escape, not because they lost to
the more fancied Pakistan and Australia, not because their bowlers
cannot bat, but because they did not bat well enough - especially on
Sunday when there was so much at stake.
But for Ridley Jacobs, who became the first batsman to carry his bat
through a World Cup innings and the fourth West Indian, including
Stuart Williams, to do so in a one-day innings, James Adams, who was
trapped leg before wicket first ball by a good delivery from Glen
McGrath, and Brian Lara, who was destroyed by a lovely delivery from
the pacer, the batsmen looked like schoolboys. The Windies lost their
first three wickets for 13 runs while moving from seven without loss
to 20 for three, and then five for seven while tumbling from 64 for
three to 71 for eight.
Sherwin Campbell simply could not find the ball, and after 13
deliveries, finally got a touch and edged to slip at seven for one;
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, after 38 deliveries, opened up to hit a wide
delivery to cover and knocked the ball onto his stumps at 64 for
four; Williams, after five deliveries, pulled a short, harmless
delivery to mid-on at 67 for five; and Phil Simmons, after seven
deliveries, went forward, then back, and in trying to steer past
slip, knocked the ball onto the top of his offstump at 69 for six.
At that stage, with Curtley Ambrose, Mervyn Dillon, Reon King and
Courtney Walsh to come, the West Indies appeared unlikely to reach
their lowest one-day total of 87 - versus Australia at Sydney in
1992-93, or their lowest World Cup total - 93 versus Kenya at Pune
1996.
Thanks to Jacobs, who scored 49 not out off 142 deliveries, and the
four pacers, all of whom faced more deliveries than Williams with
only Ambrose, by one delivery, facing less than Simmons, the West
Indies escaped falling for a record low score.
It was a sad day for West Indies batsmanship, a day which emphasised
the weakness of West Indies batting - especially as one of the two
other batsmen in the pavilion was Keith Arthurton, especially as Dave
Joseph's technique is such that he would not have made any difference
even if was there, and especially when one remembers the failures of
others like Philo Wallace, Clayton Lambert, Darren Ganga, Roland
Holder, Keith Semple, Adrian Griffith, Floyd Reifer, Suruj Ragoonath,
and Lincoln Roberts.
With Williams retaining his place, it was also a day which left one
wondering what is wrong with the captain and selectors.
Ricardo Powell, because of the swinging ball and his lack of
experience, may not have feared any better. Williams' performance has
been such, however, that the young, fearless batsman, who is also a
brilliant fielder, would have been a better bet.
With a little luck, the West Indies could have made it, and as they
make their way home, they may be cursing their bad luck. But for one
upset they would have made it.
With three teams moving from the first to the second round, it
appeared at the start of the tournament that even if they lost to
Pakistan and Australia - which they did, all they needed to do was
defeat New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland - which they did.
The West Indies lost out because while New Zealand rose to the
occasion and upset Australia, while New Zealand went out and did what
they had to do against Scotland, they did nothing more than most
people, including their own fans, expected.
The West Indies lost to the two teams most people expected them to
lose to, they defeated the three teams they were expected to defeat,
and with Lara failing to show his class, they batted true to form.
Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)