Trinidad Guardian article.
Port of Spain, Trinidad - West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, on debut against New Zealand at Kensington Oval in Barbados, says a target of 230 to 250 runs will be comfortable for the West Indies to chase in order to win this match and the series.
At the close of the third day’s play yesterday, New Zealand was leading by 99 runs with seven second innings wickets still intact. The New Zealanders closed the day on 123 for three after they bowled out the West Indies for 317 in reply to their first innings effort of 293 all out.
According to Holder: “It is still a good wicket, if we remain disciplined tomorrow (today) and make scoring difficult for them, I think we will not be chasing a big title. I think a target of around 230 to 250 should be comfortable for us to chase down.”
The series is locked at 1-1 and whoever wins this final Test, takes the series.
Holder scored 36 runs in the West Indies first innings and towards the end of play he also grabbed his first Test wicket. He was thrilled, saying, “I was very happy that I could have stuck around for the West Indies this morning, unfortunately I could not have gone on and give us a bigger lead.
“I was thrilled to get my first Test wicket and hoping to come back tomorrow (today), be disciplined and get more wickets. Getting Ross Taylor one of New Zealand’s better player as my first Test wicket was great.”
The former St Michael School student said, “It’s a blessing to make my debut here at Kensington. I remember the first time I came here was way back in 1997 to see the Test match between West Indies and India. Shivnarine Chanderpaul played in that game and I sat in the Shell Stand that is no longer there.”
Chanderpaul is still on the West Indies team and was there to see Holder collect his maroon cap from fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh. Looking ahead Holder said he would like to add a few yards of pace to his bowling.
“I am working towards adding a yard or two of pace to my bowling but it is not something that would happen overnight, it would take some time.”