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Blessing in Disguise?

Friday, February 21 2003

West Indies captain Carl Hooper thinks his team's World Cup wash-out against Bangladesh could prove a blessing in disguise, despite costing them two valuable points.
West Indies seemed to be coasting to victory after piling up 244-9, then reducing Bangladesh to 32-2 when rain forced the match to be abandoned, leaving the situation in Group B finely balanced.

Assuming no further wash-outs or huge upsets by minnow sides, South Africa will be eliminated unless they win their last three games. If the hosts achieve that feat, West Indies will need to win their next three matches against Canada, Sri Lanka and Kenya to make the Super Sixes.

"While we're disappointed we didn't get the four points, maybe it's not a bad thing," Hooper told a news conference.

"It's no more difficult for us than before, the important game for us is the game against Sri Lanka and may be this is a blessing in disguise. Obviously we wanted the four points but we want to be in the sort of frame of mind when we play Sri Lanka to know that it's a must-win situation."

The players were sent scurrying from the field after the heavens opened during the ninth over of the Bangladesh innings, and they never returned.

"We've been in situations before where the rain has saved West Indies and may be today it saved Bangladesh. There's nothing we could do about it, it was out of our control and we've just got to look forward to the next game now," Hooper added.

Despite being in control of the match after being sent in to bat on a difficult Willowmoore pitch, Hooper said he was still disappointed with his team's performance.

"We should have got more runs, probably 275, I think. 244 was only par," he said.

"We also dropped some catches and that's a worry. If we're going to go all the way and win the World Cup, we have to play against much tougher opposition than today, and we'll have to take our chances."

Hooper said the most positive thing to come out of yesterday’s match was a brilliant display by middle-order batsman Ricardo Powell, who clubbed four sixes to bring up his half-century off just 30 balls, the fastest fifty of the tournament.

"Ricardo Powell is probably one of the best strikers of the ball in modern cricket. I think as the tournament goes on you'll see a lot more of him."


Posted by Orin