Windies looking to halt slide

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Captain Darren Sammy says an improved performance from his batsmen and bowlers will be needed if West Indies are to arrest their losing slide against Pakistan, when the third one-day international bowls off here today.

The regional side will be looking for a victory to stay alive in the five-match series, after losing the double-header in St Lucia last week to fall behind 0-2.

"We've reviewed the last two games and we have identified the areas where we need to improve, especially with the dot-ball percentage. In both matches you had over 50 per cent ... so that's an area that we definitely have to improve on," Sammy told reporters yesterday.

BETTER DISPLAY EXPECTED

"The batsmen are aware of that and I know that with the help of Dessie (Desmond Haynes) showing them different ways in which to counteract the spin, I'm confident we will see a better display or some more intent, whether running between the wickets, shot selection and things like that."

In both matches last weekend at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, West Indies failed to mount significant totals, gathering 221 in the first game and 220 in the second.

The hosts have managed just two half-centuries, with stylish left-hander Darren Bravo stroking a slow 67 in the first game, while Lendl Simmons scored an attractive 51 in the last encounter.

West Indies have been bogged down by off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammed Hafeez, who have undermined the batting on both occasions.

Behind these moderate batting displays, Pakistan easily overhauled their targets, marching to an eight-wicket victory in the firstencounter and a seven-wicket triumph on Monday.

Sammy will lead an unchanged 13-man squad into the game, as selectors have opted to remain with the new-look squad devoid of the experience of key players.

"I have full confidence in the guys who are representing West Indies now to go out there and do the job. Obviously, experience counts, but we are in a rebuilding stage right now and we have confidence in the guys we have right now."

Today's match is the first of a double-header at Kensington Oval, with the second match scheduled for Monday. The final game of the series will be played in Guyana next week.