The importance of results in warm-up games ahead of next month’s ICC Twenty20 (T20) Cricket World Cup to be hosted in the Caribbean and the United States should not be overstated.

Of crucial importance is that these warm-ups present players with opportunities to gain and/or entrench form and confidence; and in the case of visitors, gain familiarity with conditions.

Also, coaches and tour selectors get another look at available options for when the ‘big dance’ begins.

Nonetheless, winning is always a confidence booster and can become a habit. For that reason the West Indies team management will be very happy with Thursday’s opening T20 win over South Africa at Sabina Park.

They will be riding high should West Indies complete a series victory on the weekend, even while recognising that top players — including the two captains — from both sides, are absent. That’s because of their involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is down to its final few days.

From a purely West Indian perspective, the form of stand-in captain Mr Brandon King, who claimed the man-of-the-match award with his exhilarating batting, was a big plus.

He also appeared to prove his fitness following concerns about a dodgy knee.

Also, the Guyanese left-arm spinner Mr Gudakesh Motie was extremely impressive.

Potential reserve players for the World Cup, such as the tall left-arm fast bowler Mr Obed McKoy, medium pacer Mr Matthew Forde, and left-arm spinning all-rounder Mr Fabian Allen, all showed off their wares to good effect.

Very important but all too often taken for granted, catching was good.

Again, from a Caribbean perspective, the chaotic falling away of the West Indies innings after the bright start orchestrated by Mr King was disappointing.

Too many dot balls and lethargic running between wickets were again reasons for concern as have been the case in West Indies cricket for much too long.

An intriguing aspect of Thursday’s opening game was the pitch. It appeared to be very good for batting after South Africa won the toss and asked their hosts to bat first. But by the second half of the West Indies innings and during South Africa’s turn at the crease, the drying pitch showed pronounced inconsistency in bounce, and provided extravagant help for spinners.

Perhaps too much activity — not least football — at Sabina Park in recent times contributed to the rapid deterioration of pitch conditions? We wonder.

But also, we suspect, intense heat at this time of year can adversely affect preparation for any cricket pitch. That’s something for both hosts and visitors to watch closely, for it’s likely to become even warmer throughout the Caribbean, Guyana, and in the United States next month.

Lastly, while Sabina Park was by no means packed, there was a very decent crowd for a game played in daylight hours on a week day and with a number of leading stars missing.

The expectation will be for a large turnout for the remaining matches on Saturday and Sunday.

All things considered, we suspect that Cricket West Indies, as well as the newly elected executive of the Jamaica Cricket Association are very encouraged.