BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Off-spinner Sunil Narine says he had recognised the importance of Saturday’s fourth One-Day International and had seized the moment.
The beguiling Trinidadian bowled brilliantly to take two for 20 from his ten overs to help push West Indies to a 24-run victory and a winning 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
“I was doing it for the team. It was the big game of the series and I knew I just had to do the job for the team again,” Narine indicated.
“We wanted to win on Wednesday and seal the series, but we ended on the wrong end, so it was very important that we rebounded today and finish off the job.
“Normally, when I go onto the field I look at the scoreboard and see what is required of me. Sometimes it requires me to be attacking, other times I just have to keep the pressure on.
“Today I tried to keep my composure and build the pressure. We got wickets at key stages and the pressure mounted on them.”
Chasing 265 for victory, New Zealand were put on course for victory by captain Ross Taylor who stroked 110 from 115 balls, his sixth ODI century.
He smashed six four and five sixes to accelerate the scoring in the final stages of the game but Narine kept his nerve – and the brakes on the Kiwi scoring – to ensure the Windies emerged winners in a tense encounter.
“There was a great deal of effort today. We had to dig deep to come up with this win, and that made it feel that much better,” said Narine.
“To win a series at home is special. The batsmen played really well after we found ourselves in some trouble and that gave us something to bowl at. Tino kept running in and I knew my job was to remain accurate and build the pressure on the batsmen.”
Narine said despite the series win, West Indies would not be relaxing for Monday’s final game.
“We beat them in the T20 matches in Florida and everyone in the dressing room is very happy that we beat them again in the One-Day Series,” he stressed.
“We don’t want to stop here. We want to come back on Monday and look for another victory. Everyone knows that 4-1 would look a lot better than 3-2, so we will be going for that.”
