http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 v New Zealand – 4th ODI – Match Preview
With the ongoing ODI series now standing at 2-1, after New Zealand’s first victory of the tour over the West Indies (an 88-run win in the 3rd match) enabled them to keep their chances alive, the 4th ODI, scheduled to be played at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts today on July 14, emerges as a crucial potential turning point in the series for both teams.
Desperately seeking an ODI series win against top-level opposition, which has eluded them for up to 4 years, the Windies have their sights set on bringing the score up to 3-1, while New Zealand, emboldened by their recent victory, will be looking to level the series, after having suffered a 0-2 defeat in the T20I leg of the tour in Florida.
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Watling-c1172 was injured in the 3rd match.
The addition of McCullum to the otherwise lacklustre batting line-up serves to balance out the absence of Watling, who has remained the Kiwis’ highest scorer in the series so far, but sustained a leg injury during the previous match. With McCullum coming in at number 3, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Flynn-c1309, who has been unimpressive so far, will be sitting this one out.
Skipper Ross Taylor, who was out of the side owing to a shoulder injury, is also likely to be rejoining the side, further bolstering the batting order.
Rob Nicol will be looking to repeat his prior performance, which saw him scoring a half-century after several dismal outings, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980, whose 51 in the second ODI is his only remarkable knock in the series so far, will be expected to up his game.
Overall, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 require something extra from the batsmen, who have failed to make a mark throughout the series.
In comparison, the bowling attack, which was largely responsible for the huge 88-run win, looks fairly solid, as does the fielding performance, which led to three Windies batsmen being dismissed via run out in the last encounter. All eyes will be on pacer Tim Southee, who claimed the prized wicket of Chris Gayle in the previous match, dismissing the Jamaican all-rounder for 11 in the 9th over.
Pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/NL-McCullum-c2120 and all-rounder Jacob Oram, both of whom claimed two scalps each in the previous match.
The host team’s batting order, on the other hand, was heavily exposed during their last showing. The four consecutive victories they claimed during the earlier part of the ongoing tour, owed largely to the heroics of Gayle, who dominated with vital scores of 85*, 53, 63*, and 125. Following his sudden dismissal in the 3rd ODI, the remaining batsmen were unable to step up, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andre-Dwayne-Russell-c44235 remaining the only stand-out performer, scoring an unbeaten 42, in addition to claiming his second 4-wicket haul of the series.
The Windies have been unable to find a suitable opener to partner Gayle, with both http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754 have both failed to impress so far.
If they are to have a hope of winning the series, the Windies will need to stop relying on Gayle’s one-man show, and develop more depth in their batting order. The only change in the Windies’ line-up is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/D-Ramdin-c1299 takes time off for his wedding.
The bowling attack, however, appears stronger in comparison – Russell has been on a roll, contributing solid performances with both bat and ball (highlights being 4/45, and 4/57). In addition, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Rampaul-c2233 has been effective, while the part-time spin of Samuels has also come in handy.
The weather forecast for the day at Basseterre includes light showers, with an expected temperature of 26 - 30° C.
West Indies playing XI (probable):
1 Johnson Charles, 2 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJG-Sammy-c1382 (captain), 9 Devon Thomas (wicketkeeper), 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Sunil Narine
New Zealand playing XI (probable):
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KD-Mills-c1781
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