Jangoo gutted, but WI aim to finish strong against Kiwis

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

In a gut-wrenching finish that left the Kensington Oval crowd stunned, the West Indies crashed to a one-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the fourth ODI on Sunday, surrendering the series 3-1 with just one match left to play.

Chasing a modest target of 189, the Black Caps were pushed to the absolute limit, eventually scrambling to 189-9 in 44.1 overs.

While the result was a bitter pill to swallow, it was West Indies left-hander Amir Jangoo who provided the lone bright spot with the bat, crafting a gritty 51 in a total that ultimately proved insufficient.

Speaking to the media after the match, Jangoo’s voice carried the weight of a man who knows what might have been. While personally satisfied with his contribution, the pain of defeat was evident.

“Yeah, I think I’m pretty pleased with my performance. But, having said that, I would have liked for it to be in a winning cause,” Jangoo reflected. “Very difficult result. Tough pill to swallow. But yeah, it just wasn’t good enough on the day. So just have to keep going.”

The defeat carries significant ramifications for the West Indies’ long-term ambitions. With the World Cup qualifiers looming, the loss in Barbados represents a missed opportunity to level the series and build crucial momentum. Jangoo acknowledged the high stakes but insisted the dressing room is not lacking in quality.

“We know how much was at stake here for this game,” he admitted. “It’s all about understanding where we went wrong and knowing the quality that we have in our team. So, I think, going forward, we know what we have to work on, and for the qualifiers, we’ll be ready.”

If there was one department where the West Indies could hold their heads high, it was with the ball. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie produced a sensational spell, claiming 5-47 to drag his side back into the contest when victory seemed assured for New Zealand.

Jangoo was effusive in his praise for the bowling unit, which almost defended what appeared to be a below-par total.

“Yeah, I think we can never question our bowlers at all. They gave heart and soul for the team,” Jangoo stated. “So good to see Gudakesh get those five wickets. [Alzarri] Joseph bowled some serious pace today. And the kind of quality that this team has, I think we don’t deserve to be going to the qualifiers. It’s just that that’s the position that we’re in.”

With one game remaining in the series, the immediate future is about pride. Despite the series defeat, Jangoo called on his teammates to channel the energy of the passionate Barbadian supporters and finish the tour on a winning note.

“Yeah, we have one more game of cricket to play. We got some amazing support from the Barbadian supporters today, so I think we have to come out, play with pride, and even get a win just to end the series on a high,” he concluded.

The fifth and final ODI will be played today and the West Indies will look to salvage some respectability against a New Zealand side that has shown superior composure in the tight moments.