– as spirited West Indies eye rare series win

WEST INDIES batsman Kieran Powell warned his teammates not to become complacent after their exciting four-wicket win against Pakistan in the first One Day International (ODI) on

Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Following Friday’s win the Caribbean side will be heavy favourites for the remainder of the three-match series, but Powell has cautioned his teammates not to let complacency creep into their ranks when they go at it again in the second game today.

“It is very important we don’t squander the lead. We have a win, we savour it, we celebrate it but we don’t want to get complacent, thinking that we have a win and end up losing the series 2-1,” said Powell, who scored 61, his first half century since his return to the West Indies line up.
West Indies recorded their highest successful one-day international run chase with six balls to spare.
Pakistan, heavily favoured after winning the Twenty20 series 3-1, was made to bat first by the heavily depleted West Indies and put up a comfortable 308-5.
The home side made a steady and safe start, but the required run rate climbed to nearly 10 an over entering the last 10 overs.
But despite losing three partners, Jason Mohammed took on the Pakistan attack and smashed it for a career-best 91 not out off 58 balls to lead the side to 309-6 in 49 overs and an unexpected triumph.

Powell, 61, and opener Evin Lewis, 47, steered the West Indies cautiously through the early and middle innings. The required run rate was high but wickets were in hand, and Mohammed, who came to the crease in the 33rd over, suddenly exploded from the 38th, just as the West Indies reached 200.

He was careful against teenage Pakistan debutant spinner Shadab Khan, but was merciless against Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, and Hasan Ali.
He struck 11 boundaries and three sixes, and profit in an unbeaten 50-run partnership with Ashley Nurse, who finished 34 not out off 15 balls.
“Personally I was pretty calm. We had a plan when I was batting. We had to get around the 200 mark by the time we got to 40 overs, so even though I started slow I knew that I could always make it up in the end,” Powell said.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have batted a little bit deeper but Jason Mohammed played a fantastic innings there at the back end and so did Ashley Nurse to get us over the line. We knew that once we needed 10 an over in the last 10 overs we should be alright with wickets in hand,” said Powell.

Meanwhile, when asked for an assessment of the newly re-laid Providence pitch, the 27-year-old Powell indicated that the surface is much better than the traditional surfaces Guyana has been accustom to.
“The ball seems to be coming on a bit better and the bounce a bit more consistent as well,which aids in you playing your shots,” Powell said.
Another win today will further enhance the hosts’ position ahead of the automatic qualification for the ICC World Cup 2019.

Currently ranked No. 9 by the ICC, West Indies have to improve their position by at least one spot before the September 30 deadline.
The top eight ODI sides, including hosts England, on the cut-off date gain automatic entry into the showpiece event while the bottom four will have to go through the rigours of a qualifying competition, where ten contenders fight for only two spots..
If the West Indies win all three ODIs, they will leapfrog their visitors to eighth position.