CAPTAIN'S LOG: We're back in the game (27 January 1999)

27 January 1999

CAPTAIN'S LOG: We're back in the game

Brian Lara

DURBAN - It was a great feeling to win our first game against South Africa.

We've shown, since the start of the One-Day internationals, that there is still confidence in the team in the shorter version of the game.

Of course, what has happened earlier on we had to put behind us.

The manner of our victory was impressive. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper got the only two triple-figure scores and the next individual score was eight runs.

Their approach from the tenth to the 46th over, when Carl was caught on the long-on boundary, was very professional and great to watch.

One of Chanderpaul's biggest worries was over his ability to concentrate for long periods in the One-Day game. He has always been an opening batsman for us but seemed to run out of steam during the middle overs.

This time he showed determination to stay 'till he got his century and then opened up to score 150 runs at quicker than a run a ball.

Over the top

Hooper played the sort of innings that myself and all West Indians would love to see him play more, not only in One-Day Internationals but in Tests.

He is a batsman who enjoys hitting the ball over the top, off both spin and pace, and with such defensive fields in One-Day cricket, he is able to do it successfully.

Our bowling and fielding stood up well to the test. Nixon McLean was expensive in the beginning but came back later to bowl at a run-a-ball when South Africa needed in excess of that.

Ambi and King did the early damage to set the South Africans back. One slight worry is Ambi's no-ball problem. Hopefully, he has solved it in the nets.

There was an improved performance from McGarrell. He and Hooper bowled 20 overs in all which went for 100 runs and three wickets - Cronje, Kallis and Pollock - which in the middle overs was a job well done.

A couple of sharp catches and three run-outs would surely make South Africa take notice of us in the field.

We have squared the series and are definitely looking to go one-up here in Durban. The pitch looks excellent, good for One-Day cricket.Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the first two. They offered too much to the fast bowlers early on.

There is less grass on this surface (than the one in East London) and we'll be looking to bat first.

There will be one change for today's match: Junior Murray coming in for Philo Wallace, and someone will be on alert for Ambrose, whose left knee is troubling him slightly.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)