Sydney, Feb 26 (IANS) A buoyant West Indies will try to defy a recent run of poor results and extend their winning streak when they take on South Africa in a crucial cricket World Cup Pool B match here Friday.
Only last month, the Caribbean side was completely outplayed by the Proteas on African soil, battered 1-4 in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series where it appeared out of its depth at times, reports CMC.
And the stats make for dire reading. The one-wicket win in Port Elizabeth last month was the first time the West Indies had beaten South Africa in an ODI in nine years.
More depressingly, in the three previous bilateral series, South Africa swept the Caribbean side 5-0 in each. In their last World Cup meeting in India four years ago, South Africa came away with a comfortable seven-wicket triumph in Delhi.
It underscores the nature of the task the West Indies face when they walk out at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Friday.
Importantly, however, they enter the contest on the back of a good run, having defeated Pakistan and Zimbabwe convincingly to compensate for their embarrassing loss to Ireland in their opening game.
Coach Stuart Williams Thursday said the side had learnt a lot from the recent South Africa series and believes the next meeting between the two sides can be different.
“The series against South Africa was more about learning about our game and where we need to go. We were playing the number one team in the world. Now it's not a series. It's just a one-off game in the World Cup. So it's a different mind-set, and we're prepared for Friday,” Williams pointed out.
“The guys have been (supporting each other), they have been working hard, they have been responding to my coaching and we’ve been doing fine up to this day.”
West Indies have responded brilliantly ever since losing to Ireland. Against Pakistan, they amassed 310 and then wiped out their opponents for 160, in a clinical all-round effort at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
They stepped it up in even further against Zimbabwe, piling up an incredible 372 for two - the fifth highest total in a World Cup game - to trounce the Africans by 73 runs in Canberra.
On the heels of these performances, Williams believes the Windies are beginning to fire on all cylinders. While he praised the batting unit, he said the bowlers are also now starting to find their momentum.
“We always stress on roles and achieving our goals in the team. Lendl Simmons has been doing well for us also, he has a hundred and a fifty in another game … (Denesh) Ramdin has been doing well and everybody has been chipping in and contributing, including (Darren) Sammy and (Andre) Russell,” Williams explained.
“But I think we had a question mark over our bowling from the Ireland game and from since that (game), Jerome Taylor put up his hand, being the senior statesman and leading our attack. He’s put up his hand and is doing a good job for us," he added.
Especially heartening for the West Indies camp has been the return to form of talisman Gayle. The usually prolific opener has struggled over the last 20 months, with just a half-century and an average of 14 to show for his efforts.
However, he came big against Zimbabwe with a stunning 215 - the first double century in a World Cup and the fastest one ever - to end his worrying slump.
Together with Marlon Samuels, who hit a career-best 133 not out, they put on 372 for the first wicket - the highest partnership for any wicket in ODIs.
With Gayle in form, the West Indies will be even more confident of a positive result, and Williams said it was a plus seeing both Gayle and Samuels hit form at such a critical time in the tournament.
Bravo has been ruled out of consideration for the South Africa game, having failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
Weather Update Today: Cold will increase from today, 271 flights affected by fog, trains delayed by hours, and chances of rain from tomorrow.
The entire North India from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi is in the grip of severe cold and dense fog. Road, rail, and air transport systems broke down. More
Chinese come every year, return after getting beaten up: Chinese army hoodlums and street goons, former Army Chief Naravane on Tawang clash
On the skirmish with the Indian Army in Tawang, Arunachal, former Army Chief General MM Naravane called China a hoodlum and a street hooligan. General Naravane said that the Chinese army considers
Five years of Rohingya crisis: Rohingya Muslims are still surrounded by many problems, waiting to return home, UNHCR appeals for help
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNSCR) has said that today completes five years of the exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. On this day five years ago, more than seven lakh Rohingya Muslims
Team India can break two records of Pakistan: chance in ODI series against New Zealand, first match tomorrow
The first match of the 3 ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played in Auckland on Friday. During this series, India has a chance to become the number 2 team in the world in the ODI
IPL 2022 LSG vs MI: KL Rahul suffered a setback after the win, heavy fine due to slow overrate
Despite winning the match against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium, Lucknow captain KL Rahul has not got a chance to celebrate much. A fine of Rs 24 lakh has been imposed on him for slow over-rate. This
Elon Musk: Musk still preparing to buy Twitter, sells $7 billion shares of Tesla
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has sold $7 billion worth of Tesla shares. Earlier in April, Musk sold shares worth $ 8.5 billion. At that time, the acquisition process was going on between
What did Prime Minister Narendra Modi bring to India from the G-20 conference?
India is succeeding in establishing its presence in the world. The country is going to lead the presidency of Group of Twenty i.e. G-20 Conference 2023 in the G-20 countries conference in Bali,
Aus Vs WI: Australia made two major changes in the team for the second ODI, Travis Head did not get a place in the playing XI.
Travis head released from Australia Squad for 2nd ODI: Australia's opening batsman Travis Head has been released from the ODI and T20 series against West Indies. Head has been released from the series
Fraud: In which case fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi is wanted in India, know what is PNB scam
India's fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi wanted in a scam of thousands of crores, is once again in the headlines. New revelations are being made about Choksi, who is lodged in Dominica jail. In
UP Police Constable Exam Date: The UP Police Constable Recruitment Exam will be held in August, note the complete schedule from here.
It has been decided by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board to conduct the written examination of Direct Recruitment-2023 for 60244 posts of Constable Civil Police on 23, 24, 25,
