Mohammed: Burden on batsmen to turn it around

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC:

Jason Mohammed has highlighted the need for a more purposeful batting effort if West Indies are to bounce back in tomorrow's pivotal fourth One-Day International against India.

West Indies went down by 93 runs in the third game of the five-match series at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium yesterday.

"I think the conditions were decent. The bounce was a little bit up and down but ... I thought the wicket was a fairly decent one," said Mohammed who top-scored for the Windies in a weak batting performance.

"What is important is we have a good start at the top and string together some partnerships and whichever one or two guys get set in the batting, they have to try carry on as deep as possible for the team.

"We have played decent cricket in spurts but it's just for us to keep it more consistent and for a longer period of time, for us to come out on top."

West Indies did well to restrict the powerful Indians to 251 for four off their 50 overs but then struggled in their run chase to slump to 87 for five in the 20th over. Mohammed then anchored the best stand of the innings, putting on 54 for the sixth wicket with Rovman Powell (30) to put some pressure back on India.

Once they were out, however, the innings collapsed to 158 all out in the 39th over.

"I played the way that I'm accustomed playing taking a little time to get in and then sort of accelerating a little bit. Unfortunately we didn't have enough partnerships and that's where we fell away in the end.," the Trinidadian said.

"We were just trying to build a partnership which we were doing very well. I was the one to try and bat through the innings and Rovman would have tried to take the chance here and there."