Brian Lara is thrilled with the momentum West Indies are carrying into the Super Eights of the World Cup.
KINGSTON: Brian Lara is thrilled with the momentum West Indies are carrying into the Super Eights of the World Cup.
West Indies completed an eight-wicket victory over Ireland in their final Group D match on Friday at Sabina Park which gave them a perfect record of three wins out of three in the first round and a maximum six points.
"We are heading into the second round feeling very comfortable and we will be picking up some momentum," Lara told reporters.
"We considered this game a Super Eight game. The win was important as well as ensuring that we had a very good run-rate at the end of it.
"I know it is a different class of opponents in our next game on Tuesday, but we've played well against Australia in the recent past and we expect to do well if we play to our strengths."
Shivnarine Chanderpaul stroked his sixth one-day international hundred, an undefeated 102 from 113 balls, to guide West Indies over the line against the Irish.
"It's coming together, and everyone has had an opportunity," Lara said.
"There have been teams where players haven't had an opportunity because they were so good. All of our batters had a hit. We got our seven bowlers having an opportunity. It is good for us, but it is now for us to go out there and be more convincing.
"It is now for us to take hold of the situation, like Chanderpaul did in this match with the bat. I'm really comfortable with the guys in the field. We just need to up the ante a little bit with the bat in hand."
Both West Indies and Ireland had already secured their passes to the Super Eights, but the outcome of the match was vital, since it allows the World Cup hosts to carry a two-point bonus into the next stage.
"I thought we played solid cricket throughout the three games, Lara said.
"It was a pretty tough group. Ireland played good cricket. Zimbabwe thought they had a chance at some point. We were very consistent.
"We're building to the point where we want to get onto the bigger games, the Australians, the South Africans, the biggest teams in the tournament. So far we've performed really well. I'm proud of the guys."
West Indies will feature in the opening match of the Super Eight stage of the competition, when they face defending champions Australia on Tuesday at the new Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
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