West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran may have played multiple explosive innings of deep impact and flair in what is still essentially a young career. But the left-hander rates his unbeaten 74 in the third T20I versus Bangladesh in Guyana as one of the best he has churned out for his national side.
Pooran deemed this as a knock close to his heart since he managed to stay there till the end and helped WI chase down a score on their way to a 2-0 series win over the visitors.
Walking into bat with West Indies in a spot of bother at 3 for 43, trying to overhaul Bangladesh’s 163/5, the limited-overs skipper took the game back to the opposition in a valiant stand with fellow half-centurion Kyle Mayers. The duo added 85 runs for the fourth wicket and tilted the scales decisively in their team’s favour.
“It is one of the best innings I have played for West Indies just because of the fact that I was there till the end. It is something that I have always wanted to do,”
Pooran was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
He was effusive in praise for Mayers, whose innings he said made his job a lot easier as they collectively went for the aggressive options with the bat and put a Bangladesh side short of confidence back into a position of darkness on the mental front.
“Our template was always to put the bowlers under pressure early in the over. Kyle put away anything loose from their offspinners. I think I fed off that today. In T20s, a partnership is the most important thing.”
Pooran said he and Mayers managed to retain a fine balance between playing “sensibly” while also “aggressively” going after the bowling whenever the tourists presented anything loose with the ball.
The captain added it is this kind of decision-making at the crease that he would love his men to continue as they prepare to reclaim the T20 World Cup crown later in the year in Australia.
