The West Indian cricket team has given an excellent performance in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011 and have secured 6 points after playing 4 matches. They have been victorious on three occasions and lost a match against the South African side. The dynamic West Indian team have the skill and the talent to go all the way in the tournament.
A discussion of their accomplishments and prospects in the forthcoming matches in the event is as follows:
The West Indians played their inaugural match at Delhi, India on 24 February against the formidable South African side and scored 222 runs before they were bowled out. Darren Bravo played a creative inning of 73 runs which gave some consolidation, as Dwayne Bravo scored 40 runs in the middle of the innings. Spinner Imran Tahir was the main weapon for the Proteas, who grabbed 4 wickets as Dale Steyn took 3 wickets.
South Africa chased the target comfortably in 42.5 overs for the loss of just 3 wickets as AB de Villiers hammered an unbeaten 107 runs.
The second match was played on the last day of February against the Netherlands at Delhi and the Caribbean’s got after the Dutch bowling by posting 330 runs on board for the loss of 8 wickets. Chris Gayle played a spectacular inning of 80 runs followed by a hurried knock of 60 runs in 59 balls by Kieron Pollard. Pieter Seelaar was the main wicket taker with 3 and Mudassar Bukhari claimed 2 wickets.
The Dutch team came out with a poor response and were bowled out at 115 runs in 31.3 overs, Tom Cooper was the only batsman who showed some resistance and remained unbeaten on 55 runs.
Kemar Roach put himself in the history books by claiming a hat-trick and folded the Netherland innings by taking 6 wickets for just 27 runs in 8.3 overs, as Sulieman Benn took 3 wickets.
The third match was played against the hosts Bangladesh on 4 March at Mirpur. They bulldozed the Bangladesh batting and bowled them out on a mere 58 runs, Junaid Siddique was the top scorer with 25 runs. Benn was the main wicket taker with 4 as Roach and Darren Sammy shared 3 wickets each.
The target was achieved comfortably by the Windies in 12.2 overs for the loss of a wicket.
The West Indians came across the proud Irish team, who had beaten the strong England side in a thriller on 2 March at Bangalore, India.
The fourth match against Ireland was played on 11 March at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, India. The West Indies scored 275 runs in the allotted 50 overs, Devon Smith played a gutsy innings and punched 107 runs, followed by a quick fired 94 runs by Pollard off 83 balls with 5 sixes and 8 fours. Kevin O’Brien was the highest wicket taker with 4.
The Irish team came out with some resistance but were bowled out at 231 runs in 49 overs. Benn was the chief wicket taker with 4 wickets, as the captain Sammy also took 3 wickets.
The West Indies are positioned at number three in the group B standings and they have yet to play two important games in their pool. They will play against England on 17 March in Chennai, and they should come out with some positive teamwork. England will be entering in that match for their survival in the World Cup and the West Indians will have to keep up with their winning momentum.
Their last match is scheduled against one of the hosts, India, which is a very strong team at their home grounds. The West Indians have bright chances for the quarter-finals and if they manage to win, they will boost their morale and may possibly repeat the history of 1975 and 1979 by grasping the coveted trophy again.
