Despite exhibiting a terrific batting performance against India, West Indies failed to defend the 323-run target in the 1st ODI on Sunday in Guwahati. Skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made the match a lop-sided contest as the man in blue cruised to the target in 42.1 overs for a 1-0 lead.
After the match, the losing skipper, Jason Holder, said that it’s difficult to figure out that what would be the par score to contain a team like India.
“Against a team like India, you never know what the par-score is. In hindsight, 320 was probably a par score. At the halfway stage I thought we had a par score but we were probably 30 runs short,” Holder said at the post-match press conference.
Holder, though, chose to count on the positives and said they were pleased to get past 300.
“It's good to see we batted all the overs. I still think there are a lot of positives. Inexperience did show. It's just matter of us learn quickly and correct our mistakes.”
With Kohli and Sharma in full flow, Holder said the "only way out is to get them out".
“They are two quality players. I think we erred in giving them too many boundaries. Up front, we went to get wickets as that was the only way to put them under pressure. We were able to get Shikhar Dhawan early but at the end of the day both Kohli and Sharma played outstanding innings.”
Shimron Hetmyer's 106 was the high point of their innings and the skipper said he could have gone a bit deeper.
“Probably it would have taken us a bit further into the innings but still credit to the young player to get his third ton,” he said.
“Obviously he had a lean patch in the Test series. So it was good to see him get a score on the board. I am not too disheartened by the game today. Yes, the game was taken away from us by Kohli and Sharma. It's a matter for us to learn as fast as we can. Hopefully, we can get into their middle order a little sooner,” he said.