West Indies v New Zealand – 3rd ODI – Match Preview
As New Zealand attempt to salvage their pride after suffering 4 consecutive defeats at the hands of the West Indies, the formidable Chris Gayle assumes larger than life proportions, with the Kiwis focusing their energies on devising a plan to get the Jamaican hard-hitter out early, in the potentially series-deciding 3rd ODI of the ongoing 5-match series, due to be played at the Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts today on July 11.
The T20I series in Florida ended in a 0-2 defeat for the tourists, and the ODI series appears to be headed in a similar direction, with the Windies having clinched a 9-wicket victory in the first match, and a 55-run win in the second. Their victories have hinged largely on the talismanic Gayle, who has scored four consecutive 50+ scores, and shows no signs of relenting.
His presence in the squad affords Darren Sammy’s men a huge boost as they work their way towards what could turn out to be their first ODI series win in roughly four years against a top Test-level team. So far in the tour Gayle has registered scores of 85*, 53, 63*, and a 125 - the last being his 20th ODI ton, which enabled him to surpass Brain Lara in the amount of one-day centuries scored by a West Indies batsman.
The Kiwis are understandably worried, and determined to send him packing early on in the innings, with spinner Nathan McCullum revealing that his team have devised a plan to that effect. The Black Caps also have a ray of hope in the arrival of star wicket-keeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Geoffrey-Wright-c67883 has declined to confirm whether the jet-lagged cricketer will be rushed into the 3rd ODI, 20 hours after he arrives in St Kitts.
With New Zealand Cricket having confirmed that the team were underdone when they stepped into the tour, and Wright revealing that the Black Caps had been refused a pre-tour practice programme in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 owing to budget constraints, lack of match practice, absence of key players, and a slew of unfortunate injuries all emerge as obstacles piled against the tourists.
Team management have no available options for altering what has hitherto proven to be a feeble batting order. Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980.
However, the visitors do have the opportunity to tinker with the bowling attack, and grant pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker, will be eager to add to his tally.
However, they will need an extraordinary effort to keep the Windies batsmen in check. In addition to Gayle, the hosts boast considerable depth in their batting line-up. While the under-performing Lendl Simmons might be replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754 – all of whom are more than capable of standing up should the Kiwis manage to dismiss Gayle early.
Their bowlers have also been equally reliable, with Ravi Rampaul (who claimed 3 for 50 in the previous match), Bravo, and Andre Russell providing the pace element, while Sunil Narine and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marlon-Nathaniel-Samuels-c74804 have the spin department covered. The Black Caps will need a spirited batting order to stand up to the host team’s bowling attack.
The match will be overshadowed by the sombre event of “http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 team having chosen July 11 to honour their deceased teammate who died in a car crash this March, in addition to having dedicated the 3rd ODI to the former batsman.
The temperature at Warner Park today is expected to be around 25 - 30° C, with a forecast for a pleasant, partly cloudy day in store for the teams and spectators.
West Indies playing XI (probable):
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Philip-Narine-c91869
New Zealand playing XI (probable):
1 Rob Nicol, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TG-Southee-c2659, 9 & 10 Nathan McCullum/Tarun Nethula/Trent Boult, 11 Kyle Mills
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