CENTURION, South Africa, CMC – Jermaine Blackwood said he was “gutted” by West Indies’ 87-run defeat to South Africa on Thursday and said the visitors’ batting could have been “a bit more selective” during their second innings run chase.
Set a target of 247 on the third day at SuperSport Park after South Africa was dismissed for a paltry 116 in their second innings just before lunch, West Indies collapsed to 159 all out in less than two sessions.
Blackwood was the lone standout with a counter-attacking 79. None of the other top seven managed to pass ten as the irrepressible Kagiso Rabada ripped through the innings with six for 50.
“When I told the guys to stick around, I was sure there would’ve been a different outcome,” lamented the West Indies vice-captain Blackwood.
“I’m very disappointed, very emotional [over] losing this game because I see the way our bowlers fought to get us back into this game and get us back into a position where we could’ve actually [won].
“So I was very gutted when I got out even though there was one wicket left after, but I at least wanted to come not out to take it as deep as possible.”
West Indies had the worst possible start, losing captain and leading batsman Kraigg Brathwaite in the only over before lunch. Wickets continued to tumble in the second session to leave the innings tottering on 93 for six at tea.
Brathwaite was one of three batsmen failing to score. All-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers are the others also to suffer the indignity.
“I think … we could be more selective in how we went about our business. We got out a bit too easy, too soft. If we were staying very positive, we could have gotten the runs,” Blackwood contended.
“It’s something we have to learn and learn fast as well because we’re facing [up] again quality bowling, and once we can go out there and just express ourselves and put away the bad balls and just keep out the good balls [we would do well]. We as a team have to believe we can do that.”
Blackwood arrived at the crease in the seventh over with West Indies on 12 for two and launched a sterling counter-attack, lashing a dozen fours and a six in a 93-ball knock.
Along the way, he put on 58 for the sixth wicket with Joshua Da Silva (17) which pulled West Indies around from 33 for five, before adding a further 37 for the seventh wicket with Jason Holder (18).
Blackwood finally perished with the result inevitable, fending off a snorter from Rabada to the second slip.
“I don’t think [the wicket was] flat. There’s something there for the bowlers right through, as you can see,” Blackwood pointed out.
“The pace bowlers put the ball [in the right areas]. Once you place the ball in the right spots, you will get some results.
“As batters, once you stay out there and occupy the crease, just wait on the bowlers to bowl a bad ball. You can score runs, but this wicket is not flat because once the bowlers put the ball in the right areas, the ball [will do] a lot.”
He added: “It’s tough to [bat on these types of wickets], but I have a plan, so I just stick to my schedule. Once the ball is in a particular area, I tell myself I’m going to score, and once it is in their area, I just leave it. It’s straightforward for me.
“Once they pitch the ball up or bowl length balls so I can score, I’m going to make full use of that because when they pitch the balls in the right areas, some balls seam, some balls swing so that it can be challenging.
“On a pitch like that, you have to score, so [as long as] you get a scoring shot or scoring opportunity, you have to score because you have to put the bowlers under pressure when they bowl a bad ball.”
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