… Deonarine calls his 65* innings one of the best played
IT took the Chris Gayle-led West Indies team seven months and 15 matches to register another One Day International (ODI) win as the maroons rallied around the Jamaican, and Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine to overcome a fighting Zimbabwe side. Batting first, the Africans totalled 206 all out, off 49.5 overs with Elton Chigumbura stroking an even half-century against a Windies attack which was led by Kemar Roach who bagged three wickets from 9.5 overs at a cost of 37 runs.

However, in reply captain Gayle (88) and Deonarine (65*) guided the home side a rare win and according to the 30-year-old at the post-match presentation, he can now breathe a sigh of relief even though they have to get used to winning.

“It is a relief. Hopefully this is the first of many to come. I must say Zimbabwe played really well to push us so far. I must commend the boys on coming back from the defeat on Thursday. The way I got out in the end I was scared a bit, but Narsingh played really well, and he deserves the Man-of-the-Match award.

If I had seen the team through, I would have put this innings in one of my top three knocks. It was a difficult wicket, they bowled really well, and it was real hard work. Mind over matter,” said Gayle.

Deonarine, whose unbeaten 65 was his highest ODI score in 12 matches, said that after witnessing the loss of the team’s two more senior batsmen (Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul) he had to take up the responsibility of leading his side to victory.

“Someone had to take the responsibility. The skipper earlier took such a big responsibility, so I needed to bat well with him. A big ‘thank you’ to the fans too.” Deonarine noted.

The 26-year-old Berbician told the media that of the many good performances he’s had both regionally and with the West Indies, yesterday’s performance in front of a jubilant crowd at the Providence stadium, could go down as one of his best games ever, simply because he helped to snap a 14-game losing streak.

“Everyone knows what winning’s like and we haven’t been winning games for the past few months but we have a victory today and everyone is happy in the dressing room, you know – the coach, even the fans, and myself. I am personally enjoying it and I feel proud of it. I’ve been playing a lot of good innings yea, but we haven’t been winning, so yea, I’ll say it’s one of my best because I was able to help the team get a win,” Deonarine added.

Reflecting on the game, Deonarine, who came to the crease after the departure of Andre Fletcher for a duck and the West Indies 89 for four, said that his mindset was  on batting and taking the Windies to victory and did not feel the butterflies playing at home in such an important match.

“I was looking at the game and I said to myself that I have to let the runs come, so I just held a cool temper.

“Once the skipper was there we worked the ball around and rotate the strike because it was a lot of overs remaining. We were always ahead of it even though we lost a couple of wickets. I try not to let anything bother me, I always go out there and play my game and bring the game home, so yes, it was nice playing at home,” said Deonarine.

He stated: “I never feel any pressure on myself, actually I was motivated by the fans around me who just kept making noise all the time every time I played and so I actually played for them, you know, so like I said, I enjoyed the game and I’m happy I can put a smile on their faces again, it’s the least we can do to say thanks for the support. So now, I’ll have to continue working on my game, my weaknesses and my strengths and look forward to winning more matches”

The series between the two sides now stands level at a game apiece. They now head off to St Vincent and the Grenadines for the three remaining ODI matches.

Photo Caption:

Match Winners! Narsingh Deonarine (left) and Windies skipper Chris Gayle sharing a light moment after the game. (Photo compliments of Digicel/Adrian Narine)

Man-of-the-Match Narsingh Deonarine accepts his award from Digicel’s General Manager Gregory Dean.