Rampaul bemoans below-par bowling performance in second ODI

GUWAHATI, India (CMC):

West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul has described the team’s bowling performance in the second ODI against India as below par, explaining that they failed to execute their plans.

The Windies produced a record-breaking performance with the bat at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, racking up their highest-ever ODI total of 405 for seven in 50 overs.

For the first time in ODI history, three West Indians scored centuries, with John Campbell, captain Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all reaching three figures.

However, Indian skipper Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 223 off 113 balls, while Rohit Sharma made 101, as the home side easily reached their target, finishing on 406 for two in 43.3 overs to complete a record run chase and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rampaul admitted that while India’s batters deserved to be commended, the West Indies’ bowlers were way below their best.

Rampaul, a former West Indies fast bowler, said their execution let them down.

“It definitely was a good batting performance by the India team in their home conditions on a very good batting friendly pitch, but definitely our bowlers weren’t consistent enough on a good pitch that was suited for batting and our execution wasn’t on par today.

“At the halfway stage having 405 runs on the board we were confident, but we also knew that it was a good batting pitch and we would have to bowl very well to defend the score,” Rampaul said.

“But having said that, the Indian batsmen played really well in the power play and put us on the backfoot from the start and we were just playing catch up at the end of the game.

“The top three batters for India are among the best three in the world, but I’ll put it down to our execution as bowlers,” he added.

Rampaul explained that the bowlers were well equipped with data and had mapped out several plans to employ against India’s top order.

However, he said those plans proved to be ineffective.

“Definitely information was shared to the bowlers and the captain about different field placements for different batsmen and trying different things, but it seemed like every time we tried something new the Indian batsmen had a way to counteract.

“Yes, India’s top batsmen are batting well and they have form, but it is just for us to believe in ourselves that we can compete, that we can stick to our strengths and once that opportunity presents itself, we’ll get back there,” Rampaul said.

“It’s just to instill that confidence in our bowlers. You know chasing down 400 runs in 43 overs is not right, but it’s just to instill that confidence in them again.”