Photo Credit: ICC
Jason Holder described his jubilation after Andre Russell’s final-ball yorker sealed the West Indies’ victory over Bangladesh by just three runs.
Bangladesh needed four off the final ball to steal the win, but Russell held his nerve to bowl a dot ball and keep the defending champions’ hopes of retaining the title alive.
For Bangladesh, their qualification hopes are ended with their third defeat in three Super 12 matches as they failed to chase down 143.
“The last ball obviously that Russell bowled, four runs needed from one ball, to bowl a perfect yorker which was a dot ball was phenomenal,” Holder said.
“A lot of jubilation went through my veins especially and then all the guys obviously did really well. It was the best moment for me.”
“The last over [of the West Indies innings] was obviously very important for our momentum.
“We were able to get three sixes which really helped us get up to a respectable total on that wicket, I felt 140 was always a very good total.
“I think with our bowling attack, I would back us to defend that and it proved to be enough and also credit to our batters for getting us up to 140 and then also credit to the way we stuck at it and held our nerve.”
Holder had only been recently drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for Obed McCoy, and immediately came into the matchday side in place of Hayden Walsh.
He hit 15 runs off five balls including two sixes in the final over before producing his side’s best bowling figures of 1-22 as West Indies clung on for the win.
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah cited Holder’s catch of Litton Das at full stretch with seven balls remaining as the pivotal moment in the match.
He said: “I think at that point of time we were in the game, we were in a good race against the West Indies, if Litton’s last shot could have been six, I thought it was probably six but that is one advantage when you have six foot five or six foot seven tall fielders in your outfield who can catch.
“I think probably that was one crucial moment of the match and in T20 cricket you have those close calls unfortunately, we came second against them today.
“But I think probably if me or Litton had got into the last over and we were both set it would have been a different story but having said that, I think Russell nailed his yorkers quite well.”
With Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals dashed, they will aim for consolation wins against South Africa and Australia to reward the vociferous crowds who have followed them.
“Definitely we will play for our pride we’ve been trying hard to get a win and two more games to go we will give everything definitely to win,” Mahmudullah added.
“I’m very disappointed because we let them down, they have been supporting throughout all the games, so please keep supporting us and inshallah we’ll try to deliver some wins.”
Name of Author: ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket, founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference. Renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, it became the ICC in 1987. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, the ICC has 108 member nations.
