Windies were confident of defending total, says relieved Holder

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC):

Captain Jason Holder said West Indies had deserved the slice of luck which came their way, though they had been confident of defending their modest total, in yesterday's do-or-die Super Six match against Scotland.

Needing to win in order to qualify for next year's World Cup in England, West Indies were dismissed for a disappointing 198 in the penultimate over.

With the game in the balance, the light rain, which halted play with Scotland 125 for five in the 36th over, then became persistent and heavy, wrecking any remaining hopes of a resumption at Harare Sports Club, and leaving the Scots five runs shy of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par score of 130.

Afterwards, a relieved Holder said he had no idea when the weather stopped play that it would have ended the contest prematurely.

"I was actually shocked to be honest. I knew there was some rain about but I didn't actually think it would end the game. Then to see the amount of rain that fell, it was actually quite shocking," the all-rounder said.

"But I guess some things have to go our way at certain times. We have endured some really tough times in the last few years and to get some luck at some stage is pretty good."

FRESH WICKET

"Maybe 200 would have looked psychologically a lot better. Seeing how the pitch played, and it was a fresh wicket where the ball went through and there was a little tackiness up front and the ball holding up a little in the pitch, I knew anywhere around 200 would have been enough."

Opener Evin Lewis top-scored with 64 and Marlon Samuels weighed in with a valuable 51, putting on 121 for the third wicket to pull West Indies out of trouble at two for two in the third over.

However, the innings fell away badly once they were separated, with the last eight wickets tumbling for 75 runs.