Pollard blames erratic, undisciplined bowling for Windies loss

West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard blames his side’s erratic bowling
for their five-wicket loss to New Zealand in Auckland on Friday.

After the West Indies made 180 for 7 from their reduced allotment of 16 overs
due to rain, New Zealand replied with 179 for 5 off 15.2 overs to win by
Duckworth/Lewis method.

Keemo Paul bowled five no-balls while conceding 39 runs from three overs while
Kesrick Williams served up a steady diet of half-volleys going for 33 runs in two
overs. Meanwhile Fabian Allen yielded 32 runs from two overs as New Zealand
raced to a comfortable victory.

Notwithstanding the West Indies batsmen losing five wickets for one run after
scoring 58 from the first 19 balls of their innings, Pollard’s comments suggested
that had the bowlers done a better job, the outcome might have been different.

“It was an entertaining game of cricket for the fans and the general public,
something that they haven’t got for a very long time. In terms of disciplines, in
the bowling aspect of things, I thought we were a bit erratic, a bit indisciplined
and in international cricket if you bowl so many no balls and if you are so
inconsistent in your execution, you’re definitely going to end up on the losing
side,” Pollard said.

Despite losing three wickets in the first six overs, New Zealand were going at
close to 10 runs an over before Ross Taylor got run out without scoring to leave
the home side at 63 for 4. Pollard said the West Indies failed to capitalize.

“Having them go at the start at 10s and 11s, you want to get a couple of
wickets and put them on the backfoot, exactly what we did. I just thought we
were not disciplined enough to stay in the game a bit longer and carry down to

the end because sometimes you’re going at 12s, 13s, comfortably but when it’s
crunch time, sometimes the pressure wants to get the better of you, coming
down to the end I thought a couple less boundaries and we would be right in
the game.”

Pollard said he will not be put off for the loss and vowed to bounce back for
game two on Saturday.

“I am here for the fight. I am not going to back down.” (Sportsmax)