Associated Press
West Indies’ ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign came to an end on June 23, when the co-hosts suffered a narrow defeat to South Africa in their final Super Eights fixture.
After an exceptional start in the first round, having gathered all eight points from their four matches to top Group D, and making into the Super Eights as a serious title contender, West Indies witnessed a dip in form against England, and South Africa. This cost them their semi-final berth.
Still, captain Powell is proud of how the team progressed throughout the year, moving up the ladder to third place in June 2024 [a recent loss saw them drop a position] in the ICC Men’s T20 International Team Rankings.
“I think the cricket we have played in the last 12 months or so is commendable," stated Powell in the post-match presentation ceremony.
"Credit has to be given to the team. If you can take a year to move from number nine to number three in the world, that's tremendous work."
West Indies put up quite a show during the tournament, with a number of home players firing up the crowd's imagination. There were brilliant wins over New Zealand and Afghanistan.
The West Indies captain shared his joy in seeing a lot of buzz around the Caribbean again.
“We haven't won the World Cup, but there was a lot of improvement. There's a lot of buzz around the Caribbean again about West Indies cricket. We have done some very good things over the last 12 months.”
“Now is where the work starts. It's for us to continue to work as a group, still be tight, and hopefully, just hopefully, we can continue to climb the rankings and make the Caribbean people proud.”
Powell acknowledged the support they received on and off the field during the home World Cup and identified it as a sign that the team was headed in the right direction.
“That (the support) has been fantastic. For all the venues that we have played, for all the social media likes and stuff that people have given us, we as a team really appreciate it.”
Emphasizing on comeback of the West Indies’ cricketing culture, he added, “It's good to see that some buzz is back in the Caribbean for cricket, because we know how long that has died down. Now people are rallying around the West Indies as they do. Now, when we hear the anthem play, as players we feel something. I think that is heading in the right direction.”
The Windies succumbed to a disheartening loss against South Africa to step back from the tournament as they failed to defend a target of 123, in 17 overs (DLS).
A poor batting display kept them restricted to 135 runs in 20 overs, with Roston Chase (52 runs in 42 balls) bagging himself a half century. With the ball, Alzarri Joseph, Andre Russell, and Chase did an excellent job picking up a total of seven wickets between them but thanks to a composed finish from Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, the South Africans took home a three-wicket win with five balls to spare.
Though dismayed at this outing, Powell credited his side for their spirit.
“As a batting group, this is one batting performance we'll try our best to forget. I think we didn't bat well in the middle overs especially," Powell said.
"You see both teams bat on the wicket. Obviously, it wasn't an easy wicket, especially to get started. I think it was a commendable bowling effort. 130 (135) at the halfway mark, we said we're just going to give it our all, whatever happens, happens.
"Credit has to be given to the guys at the halfway mark. They believed, even though it was only 135. They fight to the very end."
'He's probably saving it for the final' – India captain Rohit unconcerned by Kohli's form
Virat Kohli's indifferent form is not concerning India captain Rohit Sharma, who quipped his team-mate is "probably saving it for the final".
India hammered England by 68 runs on Thursday to book their place in the T20 World Cup final, in which they will meet South Africa.
Rohit struck 57 to put India on their way to victory, with their bowlers subsequently skittling England all out for 103.
Kohli, however, managed just nine runs, as the former India skipper's struggles continued. He has scored just 75 runs across seven innings at this edition of the tournament, and has been out for a duck twice.
Rohit, though, has few concerns over Kohli's form.
"Virat is a quality player," Rohit said. "Any player can through that. We understand his class.
"When you have played for 15 years, form is never a problem. He's probably saving it for the final."
Indeed, maintaining their composure will be crucial for India heading into Saturday's clash with the Proteas, so says Rohit.
He added: "We've been very calm. We understand the occasion of the final.
"It's important we stay composed, because that helps you make good decisions. We have been very steady, calm, and that has been the key for us.
"We'll try our best. All I can hope is to put in another good show come the final."
Buttler proud of England's unity amid adversity as T20 World Cup title defence comes to a halt
Jos Buttler says England must be proud of their efforts at the T20 World Cup, despite a humbling end to their campaign.
England slumped to a 68-run defeat to India on Thursday, as their title defence came to an end.
Buttler's team were skittled out for just 103 in Guyana, as India gained revenge for their 10-wicket loss at the same stage two years ago.
It has been a tournament of ups and downs for England, who scraped through the group stage and had to recover from a loss to South Africa in the Super 8s to reach the last four, but India's quality proved too much to handle.
"India outplayed us, certainly. We let them maybe get 20 or 25 too many on a challenging surface that they played well on. They fully deserved to win," Buttler said.
"With everything that's happened in the tournament, I'm really proud of the group's efforts.
"We can only play who's in front of us. We've had a lot of adversity but we have stuck together really well, we played good cricket in patches but unfortunately came up short when we needed it most."
England won the toss after a rain delay and put India in to bat, though Buttler does not feel that was an error.
"With the rain around, we didn't think the conditions would change and they didn't, they just outplayed us and got a very good score," Buttler said.
" I don't think the toss was the difference between us.
"They've got some fantastic spinners. Our two bowled well but in hindsight, yeah, probably should've bowled Moeen [Ali] in our innings with the way spin was playing.
"But with a good score and their brilliant bowling attack, it was always going to be a tough chase."
England capitluate as India reach T20 World Cup final in style
India reached the T20 World Cup final in style as they hammered defending champions England by 68 runs on Thursday.
In a rain-delayed semi-final clash at Guayana National Stadium, an England batting collapse, combined with lethal bowling from Kuldeep Yadav (3-19), Axar Patel (3-23) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-13) ensured tournament favourites India will face South Africa in the showpiece match on Saturday.
Captain Rohit Sharma struck 57 and Suryakumar Yadav plundered 47 as India put on 171-7 from their 20 overs.
England's chase started brightly as skipper Jos Buttler reeled off a series of fours in swift succession, yet his stand lasted just 15 deliveries.
And from losing Buttler with the 19th ball of their innings, England's top order capitulated, with Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran all following their captain in heading for the pavilion within seven overs.
Harry Brook offered more resistance with a spirited 25, but the damage was already done by the time he was sent packing in the 11th over.
Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid were run out in the space of three deliveries, and though Jofra Archer rallied with a pair of sixes, England's dismal day came to an end when he was pitched leg-before-wicket by Bumrah.
It marked a memorable triumph for India as they gained a measure of revenge for their 10-wicket loss to England at the same stage in 2022, and the Proteas – who thrashed Afghanistan earlier in the day – are all that stand between them and the trophy.
Data Debrief: Recent history means nothing
India had lost their last two T20 World Cup semi-finals, having batted first on each of those occasions too, but they banished those demons in emphatic fashion this time around.
England had won three of their last four such matches, having bowled first in each of those games, but that record did not continue.
Buttler's future is uncertain, though he did at least take a slice of history with him, with his knock of 23 ensuring he became the fourth England player to score 1,000 runs at the T20 World Cup (1,013).
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
