HAMILTON, New Zealand — West Indies pacer Jayden Seales insists that the regional side was far closer to victory than the final scorelines suggest, despite losing both the T20I and ODI series to New Zealand.
The Kiwis secured the five-match T20I series 3-1 and swept the three ODIs, but Seales believes the contests hinged on fine margins rather than any gulf in class.
Narrow defeats, missed opportunities
The West Indies opened the T20I series with a win, only to drop the next two by three and nine runs, both matches decided in the final over. The pattern continued in the ODIs: a seven-run loss in the first match and a second-game defeat shaped by conceding 40 runs in the last three overs, allowing New Zealand to win by five wickets with three balls to spare.
For Seales, these results painted an incomplete picture.
“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,” he explained.
“…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.”
Close, but not close enough
Reflecting on the white-ball campaign, Seales emphasized the narrow margins that repeatedly worked against the West Indies. “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.”
He added that the team will review its late-overs execution carefully: “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.”
Mixed batting, strong bowling, and promising signs
Seales admitted that the top-order batting did not deliver consistently, although the middle and lower order fought well in most matches. “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… We know once the top order gets runs and gives that platform… we will be a force to be reckoned with.”
He praised the bowling group for their persistence: “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 believes that sharpening execution and adapting better to conditions will be vital moving forward. “We’re coming together really well; it’s just for us to execute a bit better and use the conditions a little bit more.”
Boost in confidence ahead of Test series
The fast bowler said the competitiveness displayed on tour has lifted the team’s spirits ahead of the three-Test series starting December 2.
“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.”
He acknowledged that his own performances had room for improvement but said he now has a stronger understanding of New Zealand conditions.
“I’m not coming off the greatest of series, but… knowing what needs to be done, the lengths that need to be bowled and utilising the conditions as much as possible.”
