Saturday, June 11, 2011

West Indies vs India, 3rd ODI: Preview

India appear overwhelming favourites to clinch the five-match ODI series when they play the West Indies in the third game in Antigua on Saturday.

Having registered back-to-back victories in Port of Spain, the Suresh Raina-led young Indian side seem to have eveything under control.

It has been an overall display so far. Bowlers came to the party in the first ODI while in the second, the batsmen achieved the target without breaking into a sweat. The target was revised due to rain interruption and the visitors needed 183 from 37 overs, which they did with 3.2 overs to spare and seven wickets in hand.

The world champion side had earlier humbled the hosts in the only T20 match.

Virat Kohli is in supreme form and his contribution will be crucial today. He had flunked in the first match but more than made up for it in the second with a classy 81.

Parthiv Patel's run as a wicketkeeper is going through some tough times. He is dropping quite a few sitters and ball collection is below-par. However, India would hope the diminutive keeper continues to deliver with the bat. He made a crucial 56 which set the platform for Team India's successful chase.

West Indies, on the other hand, seem clueless. Apart from the fifties by Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan, there is not much to write home about. But it is now or never. The hosts will have to win today if they are to challenge the Indians in the remainder of the series.

Of course, they have a huge task at hand. For one, there is still no Chris Gayle. The former West Indies captain was overlooked again by selectors on Thursday when the squad was announced.

There are two changes to the Windies squad that was selected for the first two ODIs.

Dwayne Bravo's request to be rested has been granted with Jamaica's Danza Hyatt, who played in the only Twenty20 against India, selected in his place.

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has also been rested for the Antigua leg of the five-match series, which comprises the third and the fourth ODIs. Kemar Roach has returned to the squad to replace Rampaul.

Likely XIs of both teams:

West Indies: Kirk Edwards, Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Danza Hyatt, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy (captain), Carlton Baugh, Anthony Martin, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach

India: Parthiv Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra.


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