Sports

ANTIGUA: West Indies played like "world champions" in their "clinical victory" over Zimbabwe in the Twenty20 series, according to captain Darren Sammy. West Indies completed a 2-0 win on Sunday, beating Zimbabwe by 41 runs in North Sound.

"We didn't just win, we beat them convincingly. That's the kind of performances, whether we play Australia or Zimbabwe, we look to put in on the cricket field," Sammy told WICB Media.

"We played like true world champions and it is great to see the fans smiling and enjoying the matches. I remember last time Zimbabwe was in the Caribbean they did win the only T20, so we had to go out and play our best cricket."

The win on Sunday took West Indies' tally up to six wins in six T20s, including the semi and final of the World T20, the one-off T20s in Australia and Bangladesh. "It shows that we definitely are a very good T20 team," Sammy said. "Our backs have been to the wall in some of those games, especially that famous final, and we fought. Somehow somebody turns up and plays a good innings for us [to turn the match in our favour].

"This series was no different, we continue to improve and we look forward to the [World T20] in 2014, to defending our title there."

Sammy said he was happy to have several players chipping in during the series. "Today, I think [Samuel] Badree came out and just did what we all know he is capable of. We know he normally bowls very economically, and was outstanding again today and provided us with the perfect start [taking 3 for 17] after we posted a good total. That's the kind of performances we're used to from Badree.

"Simmons is back into the team and he continues to do well. He had a good outing in the Caribbean T20 and it's good to see that he has continued his form, and the way Shannon Gabriel bowled [0 for 12], it's very good for us."

Now, Sammy said, West Indies have the chance of adding to their success in the Test format too. "We have a chance of stretching our Test matches [wins] to six also.

"We did some good things in Bangladesh and against New Zealand here in the Caribbean. It's important for us to respect the opposition and continue the momentum we've carried through the ODIs and T20 series."

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