Skipper Darren Sammy believes the West Indies could have achieved the 215-run victory target in 61 overs set by Australia in the second Digicel Test and levelled the series if not for the rain which ended play prematurely on the final day.
“Yes, we were looking to chase down the runs,” Sammy said, after rain ruined the post lunch session at Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday.
“The guys were positive in the dressing room. Once 60 overs were bowled and once we bat properly we thought that we could get the runs.”
Sammy was not even surprised at Australia’s sporting declaration which he thought was hastened by the way the Windies’ bowlers kept the pressure on in the morning session.
“After Barbados, nothing is going to surprise me what they do. They looked at the wicket and thought 220 would be a good score to defend, but the way we bowled before lunch, we did not let them off the hook.
“I think Kemar [Roach], [and] myself kept the screws on them and they could not score as quickly as they wanted,” said Sammy.
He also believed the home team ended the match positively and that they can level the series with a win in the final match in Dominica starting Monday.
“I think from the start of the One-Day series, people wrote us off, but we have come up and displayed that never-say-die attitude throughout the series and we have one Test match to go and we still think we can level the series in Dominica,” he added.
“I think we have done some good stuff throughout the series, going back to Barbados, with the way we batted and the way our bowlers continue to bowl.
“These Test matches, it is that one hour that we tend to lose our way. Once we can rectify that and be more focused, I think we can match the Australians in all departments.
“The guys believe more that they are not only here to compete but they can win matches against top opposition and we [are] going out there and playing every game with that kind of mentality.
“Coach [Ottis] Gibson is a tough coach and regards professionalism very highly and that is what we are trying to do, be a professional unit that can go out there and execute properly,” Sammy said.
