Perreira, Neita disappointed with T20 World Cup ouster
Published:Tuesday | June 25, 2024 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
VETERAN CRICKET analyst Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira and former Jamaica batsman Mark Neita are putting the blame for West Indies’ failed bid to win a T20 World Cup at home squarely on indifferent batting.
The West Indies bid for a third Twenty20 World Cup title ended in heartbreak on Sunday night when they were dumped from their home showpiece, following a tense three-wicket defeat to South Africa in their final Super Eight match.
Their chances of remaining in the tournament were slim once they were restricted to 135 for eight from their 20 overs on a two-paced pitch at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, all-rounder Roston Chase the only one to show any real enterprise with a top score of 52 off 42 deliveries.
Left-hander Kyle Mayers, in his first match of the tournament after being called up as an injury replacement for Brandon King, struck 35 from 34 balls but lacked fluency, and no other batsman passed 15.
War of attrition
With both teams battling to remain in the tournament, they waged a war of attrition, Tristan Stubbs top-scoring with 29 from 27 balls, Heinrich Klaasen chipping in with a 10-ball 22 and Marco Jansen producing a nerveless 14-ball unbeaten 21 which deflated the Caribbean side.
Starting the final over from left-arm pacer Obed McCoy needing six runs for victory, Jansen cleared the ropes at long on with the very first delivery to propel his side into the semifinals, along with England from Group 2.
“I think it was a reflection of what we saw in the majority of the games. We managed to recover nicely to take the advantage from South Africa with the batting of Mayers and Chase and we were looking solid with the batting to come. After that partnership was broken we lost the middle order. We just didn’t put enough runs on the board,” said Perreira.
The West Indies played seven games, winning five and losing two.
According to Perreira, there were a plethora of factors that contributed to the Caribbean team bowing out from the tournament on Sunday night.
“I don’t think we played the kind of cricket that was going to win the World Cup or give us a semifinal spot. The pitches in America and in the West Indies except for St Lucia were disappointing. I also didn’t like the fact that six of our players were playing in the Indian Premier League until very late and hardly got back in time,” said Perreira.
Neita, president of Melbourne Cricket Club, said despite the tough batting conditions, the West Indian batters were too easily dismissed.
“I don’t think we played well enough on Sunday and assessed the conditions properly. While it was a difficult pitch to bat on, I thought that 150 or 160 was well within the reach of the batsmen if a little bit more thoughtfulness and application was put into the innings,” said Neita.
Neita also said the West Indies were too rigid in their plans.
“Sending (Nicholas) Pooran at number three wasn’t the right call at that time and I believe it would have been better to send (Roston) Chase at three. There was just a lack of application and thinking. One hundred and thirty-plus proved to be competitive but the score was too small. I didn’t expect us to beat South Africa with that total,” he added.
The long-serving cricket administrator added that the combination of Sammy and Powell is a good one that will reap rewards in the near future.
“I’m happy with Daren Sammy and Rovman Powell as coach and captain. As Rovman continues as captain, his skills will increase, so I think we should support him and look forward to the team doing well in the future,” said Neita.