‘We came within touching distance a lot’ - Seales says Windies were in position to win T20I and ODI series

HAMILTON, New Zealand:

Despite being beaten by New Zealand in both the T20 International and one-day international (ODI) series, West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales believes they could have won both had they executed at the death.

The Kiwis claimed the five-match T20I series 3-1 and won all three matches in the following ODI series.

After winning the opening T20I, the Windies lost the next two matches by three runs and nine runs, respectively, in games that were decided in the final over.

They then lost the first ODI by seven runs, before conceding 40 runs in the last three overs to lose the second ODI by five wickets with three balls remaining.

Seales said the results did not do the regional team justice.

"I think we got in good positions throughout the series. We played great games of cricket and probably lost it in the last five overs almost every game, or the last two overs, and we came within touching distance a lot.

"...In every game that we played we always felt like we were in it, except for the last T20, I think we were outplayed there," Seales said.

"But throughout the entire T20 series we felt like we were always within touching distance, a couple runs saved here, a couple better balls bowled here, a couple more runs made somewhere.

"So, it's just for us to go back to the drawing board and see where we can make the little bit of adjustments here and there and the next time that we come to these shores we can make wrong things right," he added.

Seales admitted that while the team's top order batters did not perform as well as they would have liked, the bowlers' efforts were admirable.

"With the batting we didn't have the big starts that we would like, but there was always fight shown from the middle and lower order, which is always something good to see. We know once the top order gets runs and gives that platform to the middle and lower order, then we will be a force to be reckoned with.

"And with the bowling, Matthew Forde has been superb throughout the series, Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd, when they bowled they bowled well and even Jason Holder in the T20Is," Seales said.

"We're coming together really well; it's just for us to execute a bit better and use the conditions a little bit more."

The West Indies will now face New Zealand in three Test matches beginning December 2.

Seales said the team's competitiveness on the tour had given them a boost of confidence.

"Going into the Test series I think there is a lot of confidence in the group. I know for myself that I'm pretty confident.

"I'm not coming off the greatest of series, but understanding the conditions, knowing what needs to be done, the lengths that need to be bowled and utilising the conditions as much as possible," Seales said.

- CMC