PALLEKELE, SRI LANKA – West Indies bowling coach James Franklin has called on the team to focus on all-around improvement after their five-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series.
The loss came via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, after rain interrupted their innings on Sunday.
The Windies, who were 54 for three early in their innings, managed to rally to 185 for four from 38.3 overs before rain forced an early halt. Sri Lanka was set a revised target of 232 from 37 overs and comfortably reached 234 for five with 31 balls remaining, securing victory.
Reflecting on the match, Franklin, a former New Zealand all-rounder, stressed that the team must improve across all departments if they are to stay competitive.
“We need to keep getting better in all three areas—batting, bowling, and fielding,” Franklin stated. “This is part of our journey as an ODI side, and we need to focus on climbing the rankings.”
Showed flashes of dominance
Acknowledging the challenge of facing Sri Lanka on home soil, Franklin believes the West Indies showed flashes of dominance but couldn’t sustain their performance long enough.
“There were moments when we had the upper hand. The key is to maintain that control for longer periods,” he explained.
Franklin also highlighted the need for sharper execution with the ball and more aggressive intent when facing Sri Lanka’s renowned spinners.
“Our batters need to approach the Sri Lankan spinners with greater purpose. These are high-quality bowlers, and we know the importance of having a clear strategy against spin in these conditions. Confidence in our method and execution is essential,” he added.
Despite the disappointment of the first ODI, Franklin remains optimistic about the team’s prospects for the remaining matches.
“We’re 1-0 down, but the series is still alive. The next game is crucial, and we have to be ready to apply pressure with both bat and ball,” Franklin emphasized. “We know the surface, it’ll be similar for the second match, and we must be more precise with our execution.”
The second ODI is scheduled for Wednesday, while the final match will take place on Saturday. Windies Eye Redemption After First ODI Defeat; Franklin Targets All-Round Growth
