King wants West Indies to end year on winning note

LAHORE, Dec 11 (Reuters) West Indies coach Bennett King remains confident his team can end 2006 on a winning note in the last two one-day games against Pakistan to cap a successful year in one-day cricket.

''We have had a good year in one-day internationals but we are still lacking consistency,'' King said after his team lost yesterday's third match in Lahore by seven wickets to trail 2-0 in the five-match series.

''We always knew beating Pakistan in their backyard was going to be tough. Still, losing two close games has been disappointing.'' West Indies came to Pakistan after beating India 4-1 at home and reached the finals of the DLF Cup tournament in Malaysia and the Champions Trophy in India. The first match was washed out in Rawalpindi without a ball being bowled.

''Every game is important for us. But in these last two matches we have a chance to round off a good year. We have been on the road for three months.

''Now it is just down to seven days of hard cricket and we need to pull ourselves up for the challenge,'' Australian King said.

He said his team's failure to maintain a consistent winning streak was something that needed to be worked on before the World Cup, starting with Wednesday's fourth encounter in Multan.

''We need to take every match as a must-win one. Winning the close ones is something we have to excel in,'' he added.

West Indies beat world champions Australia in the league matches in the DLF Cup and the Champions Trophy but lost to them in both finals.

King refused to blame the absence of key players, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the series against Pakistan as a reason for the defeats.

''Any team would miss its leading performers. But if they are not there they are not there and we must move on.

Opportunities are available for others and they must take it.

We play as a team,'' he said.

''I am happy some of the younger players have shown development on this tour that is a big positive before the World Cup.'' Young Lendlo Simmons scored a gutsy 70 in only his second game yesterday while wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and fast bowler Jerome Taylor have progressed rapidly on the tour.

King said the decision to open with Brian Lara was not a long-term plan.

''With Chanderpaul missing we just thought let's start with our best batters. Lara has opened before for the team,'' he said.

REUTERS SAM KP1504