Hope calls for improvement ahead of second ODI against Sri Lanka

West Indies captain Shai Hope says his side must improve in each facet of the game, as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in the second One Day International at Sabina Park, Jamaica on Saturday.

His comments come after the regional side was defeated by 41 runs in the opening game at the same venue yesterday

Batting first the visitors amassed 303 for seven, as opener Pathum Nissanka top scored with 79 from 103 deliveries, while skipper Kusal Mendis added 72 from 62. 

In reply, West Indies lost wickets at key points of the innings and failed to build any sustained momentum. They slid from 125 for two to 262 all out as Dushmantha Chameera grabbed 4-67. 

Hope top scored with 56 off 66 balls and speaking after the game, was adamant the regional side needed to improve in the penultimate game of the series.

“In all three areas of the game we could have been a lot stronger, especially in the fielding department. Our bowlers probably could have bowled a lot tighter lines, especially at the start of the innings,” Hope stated.

He continued, “We know the Sri Lankan batters tend to prey on that width that we tend to give them. So we’ve got to tighten up the lines in the next game and then obviously in the field, we gave a chance first ball of the game. So we know where you give great players the opportunity, it’s always going to be difficult.”

According to Hope, West Indies could have been much more clinical with the bat during their reply.

“The openers got off to a great start once again and then we just kept finding ways to get out. We just have to take more responsibility as batters and take the game as deep as we can, and find ways to win games from any position,” he said.

Hope also believes his decision to bowl first after winning the toss was the correct one.

“I just feel in Jamaica you usually get a bit more moisture in the morning time and so the last few years I’ve played here, every time you start at 9:30 a.m. it’s always in the bowler’s favor, so I wouldn’t change that decision,” he maintained.

However, Hope is not dwelling on the defeat and wants his side to learn any pertinent lessons from the opening game loss.

“You need to put it away. You can’t change anything that’s happened and 

what’s gone is gone. You just gotta look ahead and ensure that all the learnings we gathered from this particular encounter, we gotta turn things around as fast as we can. We need to make sure we have all the right remedies to come up victorious in the next game and then make it two-one at the end of the series,” Hope said.

(KH)