Oranje brigade all set to go for the kill against West Indies

Chandraboli Mitra

New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) They gave England a scare with alion-hearted performance and the Netherlands would be aimingto go the distance and create an upset when they take on thedepleted West Indies in their second Group B clash of thecricket World Cup here tomorrow.

West Indies, already without opener Adrian Barath andwicketkeeper Carlton Baugh due to injuries, were dealt anothermajor blow on Friday when all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was ruledout of the tournament after suffering a knee injury.

"It''s a big setback. Our strategy was built around threeall-rounders -- captain Darren Sammy, Bravo and KeironPollard. It gives us an opportunity to rethink our strategy.

With him (Bravo) missing, it has made us think whether we needa batsman at number six and perhaps an extra bowler," saidWest Indies coach Ottis Gibson.

Also, the Caribbeans'' recent string of one-day losses,including the dismal start to the World Cup with aseven-wicket defeat against South Africa, does not help theircause ahead of the crucial match.

West Indies are well aware that it is not going to beeasy against the Dutch, who are high on confidence after theirperformance against England. The Oranje brigade almost ranaway with the match before their inexperience did them in.

England prevailed by six wickets, but it was decided onlyin the last over.

Nonetheless, the unpredictable West Indies team has anumber of the match-winners in the form of devastating openerChris Gayle, explosive batsmen in Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roachand Darren Bravo and the experienced duo of Ramnaresh Sarwanand Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

And though none of them are consistent, on a given daythey can surprise even the strongest of the oppositions.

Another aspect going their way is their familiarity withthe Ferozeshah Kotla pitch and the conditions as they playedtheir last match against South Africa here.

"It remained a pretty good wicket throughout the game. Weare playing on the same wicket and that will pose somechallenges as well. We know how the wicket will play and ourthinking in terms of team has to reflect that," said Gibson.

But as far as their bowling is concerned, the once-fearedline-up now hardly has anything to offer and is struggling tostand up and make itself count even against the most averageof batting orders.

Thus, going into tomorrow''s match, the Dutch, makingtheir fourth appearance in the World Cup, would be hoping totake maximum advantage of the vulnerable Darren Sammy-ledside. .