Lara looks for final flourish

Stabroek News
June 1, 2003

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(BBC) Captain Brian Lara wants to keep the Windies ona roll by securing a third victory over Australia in today’s final one-day international.

The Caribbean side have fought back with two victories after conceding the first four games of the seven-match series.

And, following Friday’s three-wicket win, the two sides return to Grenada’s Queen’s Park Oval for their final meeting.

“We’ve lost the series,” Lara said, “But I think it’s very important to leave in the public mind that we’re playing good cricket.”

“Confidence is good and fans’ expectations are rising.

“It is important that we maintain our standards now to ensure that we do well in the Sri Lanka series that begins next month”

Lara paid tribute to Wavell Hinds after the Jamaican’s unbeaten 125 steered the home side to victory on Friday.

I would rate this as my best innings for the West Indies.

Lara, who only made 15 at Queen’s Park, was delighted with Hinds’ determination at the crease.

“All credit must go to Wavell,” Lara said. “He kept the innings together.”

“Ramnaresh Sarwan stuck with him for a 100 partnership and got us through.

“The guys stuck to the plan pretty well, although we lost wickets around the 40 overs mark.”

Lara’s Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting was also quick to praise the 26-year-old Hinds.

“Wavell played one of the best innings he’s probably played in international cricket,” Ponting said.

“And that was the difference between the two sides.

“I don’t think there’s any slacking off on our part, we’ve been outplayed the last two games.”

The man himself was also happy with his performance as he picked up his second one-day international century.

“I would rate this innings as my best for the West Indies because I felt that I stuck to the game plan,” Hinds said.