Rutherford: WI need to score more in middle overs

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand:

Following their close seven-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening one-day international (ODI) cricket match on Saturday, West Indies middle-order batsman Sherfane Rutherford has called for the team's batsmen to be more proactive in the middle phase of the game.

The West Indies did well to restrict New Zealand to 269 for seven in their 50 overs, but struggled to score runs in the opening and middle stages of the match. Despite a late flurry by the lower order they ended on 262 for six.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Rutherford said the Windies needed to rotate the strike and pick up singles more efficiently.

"I think moving forward it's important for us to rotate the strike. We know that New Zealand are going to keep bowling the ball into the wicket, so I think as a team we need to find a way of getting off strike and once we can do that, I think we're going to be in a winning position.

MISCALCULATION

"Our plan is for us to set it up for the backend, but I think sometimes we miscalculate by leaving too much for the backend," Rutherford admitted.

"I think for us it's more important in the middle phase from overs 11 to 40, if we can get more singles and even try to get more boundaries in between, it would definitely help us in the backend."

Despite the loss, Rutherford, who topscored with 55 off 61 balls for the Windies, welcomed a return to form.

He came into the series averaging just 15 runs in his last six ODIs. He also struggled in the preceding T20I series in Bangladesh and New Zealand, scoring a meagre two runs in four innings, inclusive of three ducks.

However, Rutherford said he always believed he would break out of his slump.

"It was definitely tough. As a player when you're not performing it can be hard because your mind can be all over. But it got to a point where for me I realised that when things are not going your way you can use it as two ways; either use it as a motivation or you let it break you, and for me it was my biggest motivation.

"Even the days when I don't feel like doing it, I still turned up to the trainings, still turned up to the nets, still in the gym and I think being that consistent in my preparation and just having that faith... once you believe you can achieve anything," Rutherford said.

- CMC