Chanderpaul calls for better fielding

Shivnarine Chanderpaul played an important innings of 85 not out to add some respectability to his team's total © Getty Images

After facing fourth successive defeat in the one-day series against South Africa, Shivnarine Chanderpaul has pointed out his opponents' fielding prowess as being one of the reasons for their success in the series. South Africa thrashed West Indies by seven wickets in the fourth one-dayer in Trinidad and increased the possibility of a clean sweep.

"I think South Africa fielded pretty good," Chanderpaul was quoted as saying by The Trinidad Express. "If we could take a page out of their book throughout the series, their fielding has been setting it up for them. Their bowlers have been setting it up for them, and early in the series, their batters have been setting it up for them.

"In the beginning we fell short with the runs," said Chanderpaul, who played a vital knock of 85 not out to help his team post a decent total of 231 of 8. "But if we had fielded better, we could have put some more pressure on South Africa. Because the [run] rate went up to six, and we could have put some more pressure on them. You know, with cricket, anything can happen. So I think if we had taken our catches today, it would have been a different game.

Chasing a total of 232, South Africa were in trouble at 61 for 3, but West Indies' sloppy fielding, where they dropped as many as five catches, let them down. "Also, it's that it didn't go well with us. Our bowlers, batting, fielding, seem to be losing it, now and again in some of the areas. We need to get that right and start doing that well in some of the areas."

However, Chanderpaul remained optimistic of team's chances in the last one-dayer where his team would try to salvage some pride. "We know what's in front of us and we're coming out to play hard, and trying to win the game tomorrow. We need to pick it up tomorrow and come and do better than South Africa," he added. "I think that's the only way we would win the game."

Shaun Pollock, the acting captain, was determined to win the last match and improve their mental strength. "We discussed the importance of being mentally strong," said Pollock. "The series is won, but there's one way to work on your mental strength, and that's when it doesn't count. To come out and perform, and do the business, and the guys did that today. I think it's important, because we want to move up the rankings. We've got our off season after this, so there is no reason why we shouldn't be trying hard."