Following the abandonment of the second day/night game without a ball being bowled on Friday, West Indies ‘A’ leg-spinner Damion Jacobs is backing the team to level the three-match series against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in today’s third and final unofficial One-Day International (ODI) contest at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

First ball is scheduled for 9:30 am.

The Sri Lankans hold a 1-0 lead after eking out a two-wicket win in a low-scoring opening fixture on Wednesday. In that contest, the visitors scrambled to 181-8 after dismissing West Indies ‘A’ for 176 all out on a slow pitch.

But Jacobs believes his team can turn their fortunes around with a more positive display in the batting department.

“It is no secret that our batting has let us down so far in series and it has been stressed by the coaches, because we are not performing up to standard, so we just need to be positive and back our abilities to get the job done.

“So we are in the right frame of mind [and] our bowlers did well in the opening game and we are once again confident of a good performance. It is just for the batting department to now join the party if we are going have any chance of levelling the series,” he told Jamaica Observer.

Jacobs, who enjoyed some success at today’s venue in the ‘Test’ series, is once again optimistic of coming up trumps to propel the hosts across the line.

“I have been bowling really well in nets and it has spilled over in the games; my rhythm is good and my mindset is in right place. So I just want to finish the series on a high and hopeful help the team to level the series,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Avishka Gunawardene, though stressing player development, noted that it would be good to end their tour with victory.

“This is ‘A’ team cricket (so) it is not about winning or losing; it is all about playing cricket and learning. I have six players here who are under the age of 21 and I feel disappointed that it was a missed opportunity for them to have an experience (on Friday).

“But with that said, we always like to win a game and go back home with both series win and it is nice to win games, which is good for the boys to get into the winning habit. But ‘A’ team cricket is all about grooming players and getting them prepared for the next level,” he stressed.

— Sherdon Cowan