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Windies must win today to keep series alive

May 28, 2010 Sports

The last two ODI series between West Indies and South Africa (2005 & 2008) ended in 5-nil defeats for the West Indies who enter today’s 3rd ODI in Dominica 2-nil down in the 5-match series and needing a win to keep the series alive.
After sinking to a 2-nil whitewash in the 20/20 series the host lost both of the ODIs in Antigua and with just a single win from 14 ODIs on Caribbean soil against South Africa, the prospects of West Indies winning three consecutive matches to take their first bilateral one-day series against a Test team in two years, is highly unlikely.
Skipper Chris Gayle is the team’s most destructive limited overs batsman but apart from his 98 in their 20/20 World Cup win against India he has been unable to convert starts into substantial innings and his shot selection has been irresponsible.
The middle order has not fired with Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine all struggling to get the ball away while Dwayne Bravo’s only innings of note was in the last ODI when he made 74 in a losing cause. Today Sarwan is again unavailable in an injury-plagued career while pacer Kemar Roach is also out with injury, as is left-arm spinner Nikita Miller.
Daren Sammy and Bravo seem the only players with the ‘fire in their belly attitude’ and Sammy’s record-breaking unbeaten 58 in the last game showed what could be achieved with commitment and passion. But the pedestrian-pace scoring from the middle order ensured Sammy’s effort was too little too late.
Kieron Pollard needs to do more than hit a few sixes before being dismissed to a swipe while Denesh Ramdin needs to contribute with the bat. Dale Richards will hope to build a good foundation with Gayle while a lot is expected of talented 21-year-old Daren Bravo who retunes to the team today.
Although Skipper Graeme Smith has struggled with his form, the South African batmen flayed the Caribbean bowlers in Antigua although Jerome Taylor and Ravi Rampaul have bowled well in spurts. But inconsistency has been the home team’s downfall.
Dale Steyn is among the world’s quickest bowlers, while Morne Morkel has troubled the West Indians with extra bounce on slow tracks in Antigua.
Hashim Alma seems limited on the on-side yet he has been fed a diet of off-stump delivers and cashed in with 102 and 92 in the first two matches. Regarded as a Test specialist, the opener has reeled off scores of 80, 57, 86, 11, 34, 87, 102 & 92 in his last eight innings.
AB deVilliers who has scored 4 tons in his last 7 ODI innings, Jacque Kallis and 20-year-old David Miller have all contributed for the Africans who will be disappointed with the returns from JP Duminy.
If Chanderpaul is fit today Deonarine could be left out while Sulieman Benn should play to complement the pace attack of Taylor, Rampaul, Dwayne Bravo, Pollard and Sammy.
Today’s game, which starts at 09:30hrs is just the 3rd ODI at Windsor Park ground after the make-shift West Indies side opposed Bangladesh in 2 games last year and the team winning the toss might be tempted to bat first. (Sean Devers)

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