Pollard says warm-up win key to momentum

KHULNA, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies limited overs vice-captain Kieron Pollard says Wednesday’s warm-up win augurs well for the five-match One-Day International series. West Indies crushed the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI by 118 runs at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, in the only warm-up fixture before the first ODI bowls off today at the same venue.
“The guys arriving from the Caribbean, the batsmen got a hit and the bowlers got a run out in the One-day format with the white ball,” said Pollard, who led the side in the absence of regular captain Darren Sammy.
“It was good all in all. I think we did well and hopefully we can carry this momentum into the ODI series against Bangladesh. It was also a good experience for me leading the side for the first time. The players supported me and being able to have the amount of runs we scored on the board, I was able to try different things.”
West Indies amassed 361 for seven off their allotted 50 overs, with opener Lendl Simmons (84) and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas (61 not out) getting half-centuries.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine then grabbed 3 for 47 while pacer Kemar Roach (2-40) and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-52) supported with two wickets apiece, to help limit the hosts to 243 all out off 49.1 overs.
Pollard said Wednesday’s run-spree was indicative of things to come, especially with the new approved fielding restrictions coming into  force.
Under these rules, there will be two Power Plays instead of three and in an innings, with the first Power Play restricted to the first 10 overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard, field restriction circle.
The second five-over batting Power Play will have to be completed by the 40th over and only three fielders will be allowed outside the fielding restriction area at the time of delivery.
In the non-Power Play overs, no more than four fielders will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle.
“With only four fielders allowed outside, I think a lot more runs will be scored in ODIs. You’ll see a lot more 300-run games instead of the 270 to 280-run games because of that extra guy inside,” Pollard pointed out.
“I think captains will have a hard job in setting fields and bowlers will have an even tougher job in trying to restrict the batsmen with all the innovative stroke-play that has come into the game.”
He added: “It can be a good thing and it can be a bad thing. If you want to hit the ball outside because there are only four fielders, you can still find one of them, because you are too eager.
“You still have to understand the situation and hopefully it will come off. We have a lot of power-hitters so clearing the boundary and the ball falling in gaps is important for us. Hopefully we can capitalize on it until there’s any further change.”

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