West Indies captain Jason Holder wants his side to become the best team in the world but admits they still have work to do after a 2-1 series victory over England.
Despite a heavy defeat in the final match in St. Lucia, a game which Holder sat out after being suspended for a slow over rate in the previous Test, defeating England in a series they were expected to have little chance in has been a significant achievement for the men from the Caribbean and a vindication for the calm, steady leadership of their captain.
It was West Indies' first series win against a team other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe since defeating New Zealand in 2012 but Holder realises his side are far from the finished article. In particular, their top order batsmen need to produce more consistent returns. Although they battled hard at times during this series, notably in the first innings in Barbados and second innings in Antigua, none of the top five averaged more than 36.
"We need to continue to build and not rest on our laurels. Our number one goal is to be the number one team in the world so there is a lot to improve on," said Holder. "We have got to keep improving in the three facets of the game and be clinical and lot more consistent. Our bowlers have done an outstanding job. It is up to our batsmen to contribute more."
Kemar Roach was rightly named player of the series for his 18 wickets at 13.88 and although he was the standout bowler on either side, he found excellent support in Holder, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph, all of whom made decisive contributions throughout the series. Keemo Paul, who replaced Holder in St. Lucia, looked the goods too before injury curtailed his match. Collectively, West Indies' fast-bowlers simply out-bowled England's.
A word for the pitches too. West Indies could have taken the conservative route and prepared low, slow wickets to negate James Anderson and Stuart Broad but to their credit, they kept pace and bounce in all three surfaces used in the series. That benefited their hit-the-deck style fast bowlers more than the tourists' and also produced interesting cricket where ball dominated bat. It was a brave and worthy approach to take.

The home team's capitulation on the final day was, however, indicative of a team who had already won the series. Two booming drives outside off-stump accounted for opener John Campbell and number four Darren Bravo inside the first seven overs of their second innings and those early inroads dashed any thought of West Indies batting out the day. Overall it was a lacklustre effort but probably the first time that could be said of them in this series.
One batsman who did tough it out was Roston Chase who scored a fine century in defiance of England to help West Indies scrape past 250. It was Chase's fifth Test hundred and ended a poor run of form which has seen him make seven single figure scores in his last ten innings. Following his 8 for 60 with the ball in Barbados, it's been a decent series for the Bajan.
"I had a chat with Roston before his innings," said Holder. "He was a little disheartened with his dismissals in this series so it is good to see him knuckle down and get some runs, especially in the context of the day. It would have been easy for us to be rolled over."
Like England, West Indies now turn their attention to white-ball cricket and preparations for the World Cup. Their next assignment in Test cricket is the visit of India in July and if the bowling attack can stay fit, they could cause Virat Kohli's men some problems. Under Holder, this West Indies team mean business.
England captain Joe Root: "It was important we played well this week. It should be a real confidence-booster going into an exciting summer for us.
"West Indies deserved to win the series, they outplayed us in the first two games, but it's a real step forward for this team to perform like we did this week."
Summarized scores: Third Test, Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia (day four of five)
England 277 (Stokes 79, Roach 4-48) & 361-5 dec (Root 122, Denly 69)
West Indies 154 (Wood 5-41, Moeen 4-36) & 252 (Chase 102*, Anderson 3-27)
England won by 232 runs

In a game that had numerous momentum shifts, New Zealand were able to withstand the pressure of bowling in the slog overs to chart the home team's series-clinching four-run victory in the third and final T20I against India. Despite the best efforts of Krunal Pandya (26*) and Dinesh Karthik (33*), the visitors ended up with 208 for 6 while chasing down a target of 213.
With five overs to go, the visitors needed an imposing 68. However, the duo of Karthik and Krunal joined hands to lift the side. Karthik, who replaced MS Dhoni at the crease, started his innings on the right note by pulling Daryl Mitchell for a six.
It was in the 18th over of the innings when India clawed their way back into the game with Krunal taking a heavy toll on Tim Southee. The all rounder manufactured room to thump the experienced pacer a couple of times through the off side. He also received a bit of luck as an inside edge whistled past the short third man fielder and onto the boundary hoardings.
Krunal and Karthik continued to put up an impressive exhibition of power-hitting with a couple of sixes off Scott Kuggeleijn in the penultimate over. In the last over bowled by Southee, the tourists required 16. The veteran pacer, though, used all his experience to keep a lid on the big hits as India slid to a defeat.
For large parts of India's innings, whenever the visitors threatened to take the game away from New Zealand's grasp, they lost wickets. Vijay Shankar and Rohit Sharma strung together a stand of 75 runs for the second wicket to keep India in the hunt.
At a crucial juncture of the game, Shankar tried one shot too many and fell to Mitchell Santner. Rishabh Pant, batting at No.4, then hit the accelerator pedal with a string of powerful blows. He was severe on Ish Sodhi and Santner by clubbing the spin duo for three sixes across two overs. At one point of time, Pant had raced to 23 off just six balls.
With Pant looking in ominous touch, a few fingernails would have been chewed in the New Zealand camp. However, Mitchell and Blair Tickner mixed up their pace well to pull things and that eventually led to the wicket of Pant. The wicketkeeper-batsman could only slog a low full toss from the debutant Tickner straight to Kane Williamson at midwicket.
Rohit, who struggled to up the ante, was dislodged by Mitchell as India dipped further. Karthik and Krunal tried to revive India's chase but they had too much to do. A large share of the credit has to go to New Zealand's bowlers for the win. The wicket was flat and to make matters worse for the bowlers, dew settled in during India's innings.
Earlier, Colin Munro explored all corners of the ground to compose a scintillating 40-ball 72 and set the platform for a massive total. He tore apart the bowling of Krunal by collecting two sixes and two boundaries. The highlight of his innings was the six he clubbed off Hardik Pandya into the downtown territories.
Tim Seifert (43) and Colin de Grandhomme (30) also played crucial hands to push the total past 200. Kuldeep Yadav was the lone bowler from the Indian side who troubled the hosts and returned impressive figures of 2 for 26 from his quota of four overs.
Meanwhile, the Indian camp would ponder about their lacklustre fielding following the end of their 10-series unbeaten streak in the shortest format (9 wins and a draw). The point was evidenced by Khaleel Ahmed fluffing a sitter on the on side to give Munro a reprieve off Hardik. Alongside the drop catch, there were also quite a few fumbles and misfields.
Brief scores: New Zealand 212/4 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 72; Kuldeep Yadav 2-26) beat India 208/6 in 20 overs (Vijay Shankar 43; Daryl Mitchell 2-27) by four runs.

You will read many adjectives describing Kusal Perera's fourth innings score of 153 not out to secure a one-wicket victory against South Africa in Durban. Words like 'epic', 'unbelievable', 'mind-boggling'. None of them will do it justice.
This was a batting display that defied logic. This was a knock that shouldn't have happened. When Brian Lara struck an identical score against Australia in Barbados in 1999 to win the match on his own he was rightly hailed a genius. But that was Brian Lara, one of the greatest wielders of a willow who has ever walked the earth. That was on home soil with a frothing crowd willing every flash of his blade. Of course the scale of his performance left the audience slack jawed but it was within the realm of what we considered possible from The Prince of Port of Spain.
What Perera achieved is without precedent. This was only his 15th Test match. He'd only ever scored one century before this against Zimbabwe in 2016. He was up against arguably the world's most dangerous and in-form bowling attack. Sure it was Durban's Kingsmead, a ground that holds about as much hostility as a petting zoo and one in which the hosts have now only won once in their last nine matches, but this was still a subcontinental batsman against Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Duane Olivier at full tilt.
When Steyn was castled by Vishwa Fernando in the afternoon session on Friday, the target for the tourists was 304 runs. That looked an irrelevance given the way their batting capitulated in the first innings, bundled out for 191 in the face of ruthless short balls and devilish out swingers. Perera offered the only meaningful resistance against the onslaught, registering 51 before going down swinging as his teammates folded at the other end.
Sri Lanka's final effort with the bat began in predictable fashion and the Islanders headed to the close on Friday three down with 83 on the board. Perera was not out on 12. Oshada Fernando was with him on 28. The course for the next day was already mapped out. The iceberg was unavoidably up ahead. "Gentleman, it's been a privilege playing with you," one Sri Lankan must have said to his teammates in the dressing room.
The sheer bloody gumption that Perara showed is alone worthy of praise. This was not a rescue act built entirely from steel and resolve. There was dash and daring - 12 fours and 5 sixes peppered his stay in the middle which ended with a strike rate of 76.5.
Perera would not go gently into that muggy East Coast night. When Keshav Maharaj burst through Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal and Kasun Rajitha, and then Olivier bounced out Lasith Embuldeniya, there was one wicket to go but still 78 on the board.
With nothing but Vishwa Fernando's five Test runs from seven trips to the crease to keep him company, Perera opened up. He skipped down the track and deposited Maharaj over long on for six. After raising his hundred he surpassed his previous best score with another maximum by bludgeoning Oliveir over long leg. Against Steyn he encapsulated his brilliance by picking up South Africa's best ever bowler as if he were a village trundler and cannoned the ball for half a dozen on the leg side.
Even as the target was whittled down it looked beyond reach. Every time Vishwa survived another over or Perera procured the strike it felt as if the decisive wicket was just a ball away.
South Africa did not get their tactics right here. Only Faf du Plessis will know why the new ball wasn't taken at the first opportunity. But to take anything away from Sri Lanka and Perara would be criminal.
Was there ever a point where Perera had an inkling that he was on the cusp of immortality? For that is what this innings has given him. This is the highest score by a Sri Lankan in a successful chase and he played the leading role in the highest ever 10th wicket stand in a first class match, but even these facts do no justice to him.
This innings may not catapult Sri Lankan back to their glorious past. Perera may not enter the halls of Sangakkara and Jayawardene. The outcome of the second Test starting on Thursday in Port Elizabeth will likely be the resounding drubbing we all expected to take place here.
Two years ago a vastly more experienced Sri Lankan side - one who had recently bettered Australia - were humiliated in South Africa. A comprehensive 2-0 win against the Proteas on home soil last year aside, this is a team short of recent highlights. A home whitewash defeat against England preceded one sided losses in New Zealand and Australia. Now they are guaranteed at least a credible series draw away from home.
But forget about the big picture for a minute. Allow yourself to get lost in the condensation of this innings in its purest form. One man, leading his country, marching ahead amidst a bombardment in a foreign land and came out on top. Savour this one. Performances like it don't come around very often.
Summary: 1st Test, SL v SA at Durban, Feb 13-16
South Africa: 235 & 259; Sri Lanka: 191 & 304/9
Sri Lanka won by 1 wicket

A disciplined bowling performance from New Zealand helped them restrict Bangladesh to a total of 226 in the second ODI at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday (February 16). Mohammad Mithun yet again led a rearguard action following another disappointing top-order performance. However, without the cushion of wickets in hand, Bangladesh were denied a flourishing finish to their innings, limited to under 235 for the second time in this series.
With overcast conditions and swing on offer, it was imperative for Bangladesh that their batsmen displayed proper application to negate the early threat from the bowlers. Tamim Iqbal concentrated on playing straight and close to the body, although he couldn't quite rotate the strike as much as he would have liked. The visitors, though, were in early trouble again as they lost their openers on either side of a rain interruption. Liton Das paid for for his ambitious attempt to hit a Trent Boult delivery over the top while Tamim fell for a 28-ball 5 after being trapped in front by Matt Henry.
Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his 200th ODI, had a early reprieve when he was put down by Todd Astle after mistiming a pull off Boult. He hung around and assisted Soumya Sarkar in rebuilding the innings for Bangladesh. However, the recovery was short-lived as Sarkar was sucked into a drive by Colin de Grandhomme, with the resultant outside edge landing in the hands of Ross Taylor at slip. Taylor, however, had an average day in the field, dropping Rahim and Mohammad Mithun off Lockie Ferguson. The bowler finally got his break when Rahim chopped one on to the stumps, which was followed by the departure of Mahmudullah as Bangladesh lost half their side for the addition of only 93.
The onus was on Mithun to lead Bangladesh's fightback and the No. 5 did not disappoint, bringing up his second successive fifty. With Sabbir Rahman providing solid support from the other end, a well-paced 75-run stand for the sixth wicket came a much-needed aid for Bangladesh. Mithun was confident with his footwork against Astle, targeting the legspinner for regular boundaries including a six that helped him bring up his half-century. However, Astle had the last laugh as he beat Mithun - who was struggling with hamstring issues - on the cut with a delivery that skidded through.
Mithun's dismissal brought down the scoring rate with the boundaries drying up. Mehidy Hasan, in his bid to break the shackles, gave James Neesham his first wicket. Sabbir, who had earlier reversed a leg-before decision with the use of DRS, fell seven short of a fifty after he was was foxed by a slower one from Ferguson. Mohammad Saifuddin became Ferguson's third scalp before Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman added 15 for the last wicket.
Match Summary:
2nd ODI, Feb 16, 2019
Bangladesh v New Zealand at Christchurch
Bangladesh 226; NZ 229/2 (36.1/50)
NZ won by 8 wickets (with 83 balls remaining)

Shannon Gabriel, the Windies spearhead, has come out with an "unreserved apology" to England skipper Joe Root in relation to the verbal altercation that took place on Day 3 of the St. Lucia Test, and eventually got the fast bowler suspended for four ODIs by the ICC.
The pacer, on his part, released a statement to shed more light about the verbal altercation. He noted that the verbal spat happened in the heat of the moment, when he was trying to find a way past the pressures of Test cricket.
"To my team-mates and members of the England team, especially their captain Joe Root, I extend an unreserved apology for a comment which in the context of on-the-field rivalry, I assumed was inoffensive and sporting banter," Gabriel said. "I know now that it was offensive and for that I am deeply sorry.
"The exchange occurred during a tense moment on the field. The pressure was on and England's captain Joe Root was looking at me intensely as I prepared to bowl, which may have been the unusual psychological strategy with which all Test cricketers are familiar.
"I recognize now that I was attempting to break through my own tension when I said to Joe Root: 'Why are you smiling at me? Do you like boys?' His response, which was picked up by the microphone, was: 'Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay.' I then responded: 'I have no issues with that, but you should stop smiling at me.'"
The pacer from Trinidad was also levied a fine of 75% of his match fee and three demerit points for the Level 2 offence. That relates to a ban from either two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first. He will miss the first four matches of the forthcoming rubber, scheduled to commence next week in Barbados.

1st Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 14 2019
Lahore Qalandars 171/8
Islamabad United 177/5 (19.2/20 ov, target 172)
Is Un won by 5 wkts (with 4 balls remaining)
2nd Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Feb 15 2019
Karachi Kings 183/6
Multan Sultans 176/9 (20 ov, target 184)
Karachi Kngs won by 7 runs
3rd Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 15 2019
Peshawar Zalmi 155/4
Quetta Gladiators 161/4 (19.4/20 ov, target 156)
Quetta Glad won by 6 wkts (w/2 balls remaining)
4th Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Feb 16 2019
Islamabad United 125/7
Multan Sultans 126/5 (18.4/20 ov, target 126)
Sultans won by 5 wkts (with 8 balls remaining)
5th Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 16 2019
Lahore Qalandars 138/6
Karachi Kings 116 (19.5/20 ov, target 139)
Qalandars won by 22 runs
6th Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Feb 17 2019
Islamabad United 157/8
Quetta Gladiators 161/3 (18.2/20 ov, target 158)
Quetta Glad won by 7 wkts (with 10 balls rem.)
7th Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 17 2019
Lahore Qalandars 78
Peshawar Zalmi 81/3 (10.1/20 ov, target 79)
Zalmi won by 7 wkts (with 59 balls remaining)
8th Match, (N) at Sharjah, Feb 20 2019
Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators
9th Match, (N) at Sharjah, Feb 21 2019
Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi
10th Match, (D/N) at Sharjah, Feb 22 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans
11th Match, (N) at Sharjah, Feb 22 2019
Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi
12th Match, (D/N) at Sharjah, Feb 23 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators
13th Match, (N) at Sharjah, Feb 23 2019
Islamabad United v Karachi Kings
14th Match, (D/N) at Sharjah, Feb 24 2019
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
15th Match, (N) at Sharjah, Feb 24 2019
Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators
16th Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 26 2019
Islamabad United v Multan Sultans
17th Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Feb 27 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators
18th Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 27 2019
Islamabad United v Karachi Kings
19th Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Feb 28 2019
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
20th Match, (N) at Dubai, Feb 28 2019
Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars
21st Match, (D/N) at Dubai, Mar 1 2019
Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi
22nd Match, (N) at Dubai, Mar 1 2019
Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators
23rd Match, (D/N) at Abu Dhabi, Mar 4 2019
Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
24th Match, (N) at Abu Dhabi, Mar 4 2019
Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans
25th Match, (D/N) at Abu Dhabi, Mar 5 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi
26th Match, (N) at Abu Dhabi, Mar 5 2019
Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators
27th Match, (N) at Karachi, Mar 7 2019
Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi
28th Match, (N) at Lahore, Mar 9 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United
29th Match, (D/N) at Karachi, Mar 10 2019
Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators
30th Match, (N) at Lahore, Mar 10 2019
Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans
Eliminator 1, (N) at Lahore, Mar 12 2019
TBA v TBA
Qualifier, (N) at Karachi, Mar 13 2019
TBA v TBA
Eliminator 2, (N) at Karachi, Mar 15 2019
TBA v TBA
Final, (N) at Karachi, Mar 17 2019
TBA v TBA

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