A FUMBLED catch, a sensational run out, a few reckless strokes, an abandoned match and, suddenly, the euphoria of the West Indies’ opening World Cup victory over South Africa has turned to apprehension over whether they can get through the preliminary round.
The situation has been compounded by the un- timely loss of form of Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds, the left-handed openers who had such a profound influence on the stimulating 4-3 triumph in the one-day series in India last November, and by the uncertain catching.
Somehow, captain Carl Hooper has managed to put a positive interpretation on Tuesday’s loss of two points in the weather-ruined no result against Bangladesh in Benoni.
“It means our game against Sri Lanka (in Cape Town February 28) takes on extra importance and, while we may have wanted the four points here, it could well be a blessing in disguise,” he said. “We know that game is now a must-win game for us and we will go out to get the points.”
Had the Bangladesh match gone the required distance, the West Indies surely would have won and taken full four points.
Barring slip-ups, cricketing or meteorlogical, in future engagements against Canada and Kenya, they would have taken on Sri Lanka without the pressure of needing victory since South Africa would have been the ones to miss out.
The Benoni rain has thrown the home team back into contention and Sri Lanka’s remaining matches against the West Indies and South Africa are likely to determine which two join New Zealand in the Super Sixes.
To advance, the West Indies must play appreciably better than they have in their last two matches against the confident Sri Lankans who defeated New Zealand in their opener and have been utterly ruthless against Bangladesh and Canada since.
The inferior catching, characterised by costly deep field misses in the late overs by Pedro Collins against South Africa and Marlon Samuels against New Zealand and three in the slips against Bangladesh, and the faltering top order batting do not constitute the recipe for winning the World Cup - or even get through to the next round.
Even Brian Lara’s run out by a piece of New Zealand magic was too casual at this level.
The catching problem is nothing new and no amount of practice seems to make a difference. It has been the most frustrating aspect of Roger Harper’s tenure as coach. As peerless a fielder as there has ever been, he must die a little with every catch that goes down.
Hooper and Gayle, two specialist and usually reliably slip fielders, each put down straightforward offerings on Tuesday.
“We have to learn in the tougher games that we have to take these chances when they come,” was Hooper’s self-evident observation.
It would be helpful as well if Gayle and Hinds could find some form against Canada in the next match at Centurion on Sunday, leading up to the Sri Lanka match five days later.
Gayle, tall, commanding and a fierce striker at his best, is yet to come to terms with conditions with scores of 2, 22 and 0.
He dragged on a flat-footed drive against South Africa, slashed high to slip against New Zealand and drove to extra-cover against Bangladesh.
Hinds, who has made 0, 14 and 18, was undone by a bad umpiring decision against South Africa, drove loosely to short extra-cover against New Zealand and got a good one that he edged to slip against Bangladesh.
Their partnerships have been 4, 34 and 19, well short of their resounding successes in India. “The tracks are a bit different and they’re struggling a bit to find their feet,” Hooper noted.
But there was no thought yet of changing them.
“They did wonderfully well for us in India where they had some huge stands at five, six, sometimes seven runs an over that set us up for big totals,” he said. “It’s a bit of a worry now but the important thing is to believe in them.
I think they’ll come good sooner or later.”
Their useful bowling is a bonus but, if their form doesn’t improve soon, change would be necessary.
Promoting Shivnarine Chanderpaul to open, as he has often done with success, would allow the introduction of Samuels whose rich talent is being wasted in the dressing room but who cannot find a place given Ricardo Powell’s spectacular hitting at No.7.
Powell has been one of the revelations of the tournament.
While the established candidates - Lara, Sanath Jayasuirya, Herschelle Gibbs, Stephen Fleming - have made an immediate impact, Powell, out of the West Indies team only nine months ago, has returned with a bang, literally.
His shot selection has improved without any loss of power and his 40 off 18 balls against South Africa and 50 off 31 against Bangladesh have included some of the longest hits of the tournament.
In both those matches, his finale - in partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan against South Africa - powered the West Indies along at more than 10 an over in the closing stages. “We’ll hear a lot more of Ricardo Powell in this tournament,” Hooper said after the Bangladesh match.
Perhaps we will, but only if the West Indies move on to the next round.