PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Ottis Gibson saw first-hand the huge challenge that lies ahead in restoring the fortunes of West Indies. The new West Indies coach had a forgettable first day on the job, when supine batting from his side plunged them to a 26-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in a Twenty20 International on Sunday.

Chasing a modest 106 for victory, West Indies were restricted to 79 for seven from their allocation of 20 overs.

It was a harsh reminder for Gibson about the state of West Indies cricket, after he left the comfortable post of England bowling coach to take up this job.

He made no excuses for his side, and acknowledged his approach to the run chase in the wrong manner.

“I told them if you take (Zimbabwe) for granted, you’ll get beat,” Gibson told reporters following the maiden T20I between the two sides.

“I stand before you to say we didn’t take them for granted. We planned for them, but the guys executed badly.”

West Indies again showed their susceptibility to steady, if not menacing spin bowling, as Zimbabwe exploited the hard, slow Queen’s Park Oval pitch that offered generous turn and made batting difficult.

“You’ve got to give credit to Zimbabwe,” said Gibson. “They played the conditions far better than we did.

“The pitch was pretty ordinary, not necessarily conducive to stroke-making, but our guys did not take that into consideration.”

Gibson praised the bowling which was the only part of the West Indies’ game that worked effectively.

Darren Sammy collected five wickets for 26 runs from 3.5 overs to eclipse Sulieman Benn’s spell with the new ball of four for six from four overs as the third best figures in a T20I.

“Benn, Sammy, and Kemar Roach all bowled well,” Gibson said. “Nothing can be taken away from them. We also fielded sharply – we dropped only one catch. We just didn’t bat well.”

Gibson now has four days to read his side the riot act before the first of the five One-day Internationals between the two sides on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.
“The first thing is to realise what has gone wrong, and then deal with it,” he said. “I am bitterly disappointed with the way we lost, but I’m also looking to the future.

Start of WI collapse: Opener Adrian Barath is bowled by Ray Price after charging down the pitch and missing the ball. (Yahoo Sport photo)