Holder Blames Sloppy Fielding For West Indies Defeat

GALLE, Sri Lanka (CMC) – West Indies captain Jason Holder has blamed sloppy fielding by his side for their innings defeat to Sri Lanka in their first Test which ended at the Galle International Stadium here yesterday.

Holder’s men crashed to an innings and six-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the second session of the fourth day of the Test match.

The West Indies effort was marred by several sloppy misfields, two missed run-out attempts and five shelled catches, including a sixth that was not attempted.

“We created chances with the ball, but we just didn’t take them when they came,” lamented Holder.

“If we had, their first innings total would have looked a lot different. If we had new batsmen in at crucial stages when our fast bowlers were fresh, we would have had a chance to have a good burst at them.”

Jermaine Blackwood, in a gallant attempt to avert an innings defeat, fell eight runs shy of a century as West Indies were bowled out for 227 in their second innings.

Apart from Blackwood, the only other West Indian batsman to score a half century in the match was Darren Bravo with an even fifty in the first inning.