South African captain and master batsman AB de Villiers says that the West Indies is still a dangerous team, despite the fact that they were crushed by his outfit in their ICC 2015 World Cup cricket clash at the SCG in Australia on Friday.
The brilliant de Villiers scored a remarkable unbeaten 162 off 66 balls to lead his team to 408 for five against the Caribbean men. His leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, with 5/45 and Kyle Abbott, with the wickets of the danger men Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, ensured that the West Indies were kept to an embarrassing 151 all out in reply, recording their biggest ever loss in an ODI.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian de Villiers said: “I still think that the West Indies are a dangerous team and we must not write them off in this tournament. They have some good quality in there and although they lost badly to us, they can still come back strong, not to be written off at all.”
The right-hander, who is probably the best batsman in the world today, says he feels for his young compatriot Jason Holder.
“I do feel for Jason, not during the game but thinking about it after you would realise that it is very tough for him. He would have days like that but he seems to be a strong man and I think he would come out of it. I remember going through those days, earlier in my leadership stint, so it’s all a learning process.
“There are enough experienced men around him in the dressing room to speak to share and share their knowledge and basically take care of him. He is sure to improve with time and needs to understand that captaincy is not an easy thing.”
Holder was bowling very well until de Villiers came to the crease. After five overs, he had figures of one for nine and ended up with he second worst bowling figures ever in an ODI and the worst by a West Indian.
Only New Zealand’s Martin Snedden has conceeded more runs than him in an ODI.
After eight overs, Holder’s figures read 1/40 and at the end of his ten-over spell, he had none for 102 – 62 runs coming from his last two overs.
The young man did, however, redeem himself somewhat by scoring a half century when the team batted. (VM)
