GEORGETOWN – West Indies coach Phil Simmons is singing the praises of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard after their successful return to international cricket.
Off-spinner Narine celebrated his return to international colours with a career-best six-wicket haul while Pollard smashed a bold half-century to mark his first One-Day International in nearly two years, as West Indies eased to a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the opening game of the tri-nations series on Friday night.
In a low-scoring day/night affair at the Guyana National Stadium, Narine snared six for 27 to rout the Proteas for 188 off 46.5 overs and Pollard followed up that effort with a run-a-ball unbeaten 67, which carried the hosts to victory with 11 deliveries remaining.
Simmons, praised the pair’s contributions, highlighting Narine’s effort to bounce back from a difficult period, in which he has remodelled his bowling action after it was found to be illegal.
“They are the two guys who took the game away from South Africa, and it showed that they’re very important to our cricket,”” Simmons said.
“Narine himself, coming back from everything he’s been through, to come and perform the way he did today, you have to give him a lot of kudos for his grit and his determination, to come out of where he’s been and to come back and perform like this.”
Pollard showed his ball-striking ability by hitting six sixes, but waited for the right moments to play his big shots on a sluggish pitch.
“Pollard’s experience showed there,” Simmons said “His ability to hit the ball but also his experience to guide young [Darren] Bravo and so on through the end. [It] showed in [South Africa’s] innings too, [AB] de Villiers guiding [Rilee] Rossouw. And also, I think we came out and [showed] a little bit more grit and a little bit more determination today.”
West Indies’ chase was also helped by opener Johnson Charles’ 31 while left-hander Darren Bravo chipped in with 30.
West Indies were in a spot of bother at 76 for four in the 26th over when Pollard arrived, and he quickly quelled the nerves with his eighth ODI half-century which included six sixes and two fours.
Significantly, the right-hander put on a crucial 74 for the fifth wicket with Bravo which resuscitated the run chase and turned the tide back towards West Indies.
Earlier, Narine claimed the best one-day figures by a West Indies spinner and the fifth best figures overall as South Africa were bundled out cheaply after opting to bat first.
Banned by the International Cricket Council last November because of an illegal action but cleared to resume bowling in April after rehabilitation on his action, the Trinidadian befuddled the South African lineup with a fine display of off-spin. (CMC/HG)
