Windies remained upbeat despite ODI drubbing, says Pollard

Kieron Pollard of the West Indies celebrates after dismissing Brad Haddin of Australia during the International Twenty20 match between Australia and the West Indies at The Gabba on February 13, 2013 in Brisbane, Australia.

Brisbane, Feb 14 (IANS/CMC) Middle-order batsman Keiron Pollard says the West Indies were able to defeat Australia in a one-off Twenty20 match because the players remained motivated despite suffering a five-nil drubbing in the ODI series.

Darren Sammy‘s men maintained their status as T20 world beaters on the strength of an exciting 27-run win over Australia at the Gabba Wednesday, reports CMC.

Pollard, who played an influential role with bat and ball to derail the Aussies, says West Indies players had enough fight left in them.

“We lost the One-Dayers but everyone was still upbeat. We didn’t let the defeats get us down too much,” said Pollard who hit two sixes and two fours in a quick-fire 26 and returned to grab three middle-order wickets for 30 runs.

“We just knew we had to rebound and looked to be dominant. It was a matter of keeping our heads up and going out and ‘representing’ West Indies cricket.”

Pollard was one of the leading players in the West Indies team which won the ICC World T20 Championship in Sri Lanka last year.

In recent matches he has hit top form – with an unbeaten century in the fourth ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground followed by 45 in the fifth ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.