Narine: I have three balls

West Indies’ Sunil Narine is confident he can maintain his dominance over New Zealand’s batsmen when the two teams meet in the two-match Twenty20 (T20) series this weekend. The matches will be played at Windsor Park on Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm on each day.



The ace spinner is ranked at number two in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 bowling table. He has bagged 12 wickets for 130 runs in five T20s against the Black Caps, including career-best figures of 4-12 in Florida, USA, two years ago.



He said: “I only have three balls and just vary them a bit. I don’t know why I have been particularly successful against New Zealand. I am a different off-spinner and probably because of this they take an extra look at my bowling and by the time that happens, my spell is completed.



“I have to keep it simple and I will get the results. The key is trying to stay relaxed because when you get hyper, you tend to bowl differently from what you are accustomed to and this is when the problems creep in.”



Looking at this weekend’s matches, Narine said he was ready and eager to do well.



“My focus is 100 per cent because I am playing for the West Indies and I want to win. Developing a winning mindset is the key here. A winning mindset would lead to a winning habit. l am really looking forward for the first game on Saturday and doing well to help my team.”



Narine said he had no problem with being ranked under his teammate Samuel Badree in the ICC T20 rankings.



“There is a friendly rivalry with Samuel Badree once we do well for the West Indies. Badree has been bowling very well in the past year and that is why he is number one. Hopefully I can do well this series and past him,” Narine said.



Another player that Narine thinks would be a key for the West Indies in the two matches is Jamaican medium pacer Krishmar Santokie.



“He is an excellent player. We need Santokie to get early wickets at the top for us and this would set the trend for the others to come in and do well.”



Narine was banned from playing in the previous Test series which the West Indies lost 1-2 to the Kiwis because he missed the deadline to join the preparation camp in time for the series. The date was set for June 1 but Narine opted to stay in India and help his team Kolkata Knight Riders claim the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 title on the same day.