Daren Sammy, the head coach of the West Indies cricket team, urged his players to dismiss their eight-wicket loss to England as a minor setback and maintain their belief in their ability to win an unprecedented third men's T20 World Cup title.
Despite setting England a competitive target of 181 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia, the West Indies bowlers failed to make an impact, allowing the defending champions to cruise to victory with 15 balls to spare. Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow's unbroken 97-run partnership for the third wicket proved decisive for England.
Sammy acknowledged that his team fell short of a winning total on a flat pitch, but he emphasized that this loss should not dampen their spirits. "It's part of the game," Sammy said. "We still believe we've got a team that could win this World Cup."
The West Indies made two changes to their lineup, bringing back Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd in place of Shai Hope and Obed McCoy. Sammy defended the decision, highlighting Shepherd's all-around abilities and his potential impact against England's strong batting lineup.
Despite their current position at the bottom of Group 2 in the Super Eight, the West Indies remain confident in their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. They will need to secure victories against both the USA and South Africa in their remaining matches.
"We did not execute our plans well enough," Sammy admitted. "But that doesn't mean we're out of it. We've got to win all our matches, and that's what we'll focus on."
The West Indies will travel to Barbados for their next match against the USA on Friday. Sammy indicated that the team will assess their performance and make any necessary adjustments to improve their chances of success.
Tags: #T20WorldCup, #WestIndies, #England, #DarenSammy, #PhilSalt
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