CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh — Stand-in captain Roston Chase says the West Indies must sharpen their execution with both bat and ball if they are to continue their winning ways when they face New Zealand in their upcoming five-match T20 International series.
Fresh from sweeping Bangladesh 3-0 in Chattogram on Friday — their first T20I series win in Bangladesh and only their second bilateral T20I triumph in nine attempts — the Caribbean side will enter the New Zealand challenge with renewed confidence. The opening match bowls off next Wednesday.
Chase, who guided the team in the absence of regular skipper Shai Hope, said in his post-match remarks that the West Indies’ key to progress lies in consistency and discipline.
“In the bowling department, the way we strategized, sat down, and planned — and then the bowlers came out and stuck to those plans and executed — that should be the way forward,” Chase emphasized. “That’s what brought us success, and it’s what we have to keep doing.”
Finding balance in the batting approach
While the Windies’ bowlers earned plaudits for their precision and intensity in the Bangladesh series, Chase said the batters must now match that level of execution — particularly in building lasting partnerships.
“T20s may be fast-paced,” he noted, “but you still need partnerships. Once two guys get in, they have to take it as deep as possible. For the last couple of seasons, we’ve either started well and not finished well, or started poorly and finished strong. It’s about combining the two — transitioning smoothly from the start into the back half of the innings.”
Chase stressed that adaptability will be vital in New Zealand, where vastly different conditions await.
“Obviously, in New Zealand it’ll be different — the conditions, the pitches — so the guys just have to adapt and adjust as fast as possible,” he said.
Personal satisfaction and team resilience
Chase, who struck a composed half century to anchor the West Indies’ five-wicket win in the final match, was named Player of the Match. He admitted that the victory carried special personal meaning.
“I’m taking a lot of satisfaction from this series — it feels really great,” he said with a smile. “I’ve never come to Bangladesh and won any series, whether T20I, ODI, or Test, so it feels really good that we can finally achieve that.”
The 32-year-old allrounder also addressed the wave of criticism that followed the team’s earlier ODI series loss to Bangladesh. Rather than dwelling on outside noise, he said, the group focused on their own process and improvement.
“I know people may criticize and have a lot to say,” Chase reflected, “but we just try to block that out, concentrate on the cricket at hand, come up with the best plans, and go out there and execute them. Everyone will have their opinions — that’s not for us to take on.”
Building forward
With momentum restored and a captain’s calm perspective guiding the way, the West Indies will now look to convert their Bangladesh success into a sustained run of form on the challenging New Zealand tour. Chase’s call for sharper execution — and unity in both departments — sets the tone for what could be a defining series in their T20 evolution.
