HARARE, Zimbabwe – Following a successful One Day International (ODI) series, West Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz is expecting the younger players to come to the fore in their upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe Women.
The Windies took the preceding three-match ODI series 2-1 with a convincing 91-run win in the final match on Sunday.
The focus now shifts to the shorter format, with the two teams clashing at the Takashinga Sports Club in the opening contest on Saturday.
Deitz said he hoped the team could carry forward their good showing in the ODI series into the T20Is.
“Obviously it was a good series win even though we probably wanted to win 3-0. We played some good cricket over the three games but probably had a period of about 45 minutes where it sort of unravelled in game two, but we had some success.
“Some players have had some good form as well, so it’s about carrying that form over and that momentum into this series,” Deitz said.
“There’s a good feel in the group and a lot of young players are going to get a lot of opportunities here now.”
With captain Hayley Matthews missing in action for the T20I series, Deitz said this was the perfect opportunity for some of the younger players to step up.
Matthews, who smashed two centuries in the ODI series and finished with the most runs, was named Player-of-the-Series.
“I thought Aaliyah [Alleyne’s] 10 overs in a row last game was a great spell. I think [Ashmini] Munisar has bowled really, really well in these conditions as a young player, and just the energy in the field and the way we’ve conducted ourselves has been really good.
“‘[Realeanna] Grimmond had a 50 in the first game, so there are signs there that our young players are really stepping up and what we need to do, particularly in this series, is to get those young players stepping up and not just showing their skill level, but showing their match-winning performances and their mindset is ready to be a proper, international cricketer who can take responsibility and take on important roles in the squad,” Deitz said.
“In the ODIs, Hayley dominated the show, but now someone has got to take over that Hayley role.”
CMC
