The fourth ODI between West Indies and Zimbabwe will be played on the same ground as the previous one, the Kingstown in St. Vincent. West Indies lead the series 2-1 after a rather comprehensive win over the Zimbabwean side in the third game of the series.
The momentum has slowly shifted towards West Indies in the last couple of games, and for the Zimbabweans to get back at the hosts, will require their batsmen to plunder some runs. With the return of some of their key players, West Indies (1/5 at Boylesports to win the series in this game) will go into the match as firm favourites, and Zimbabwe (9/2 at Sporting Bet to equal the series) will have to do all the catching up.
Shivnaraine Chanderpaul’s (10/3 at Blue Square to top the West Indian batting) half century was the cornerstone of the West Indian batting in the third game, and his rock-solid batting will give his opponents much headache. Together, in the company of his more aggressive partner in Chris Gayle (5/2 at Blue Square to top the West Indian batting), Chanderpaul could be a thorn in Zimbabwe’s flesh. But, the flip to that is that the Zimbabwean bowlers will understand that an early couple of wickets of these senior pros, and the rest of the inexperienced could fall like nine pins.
Adrian Barath (11/2 at Blue Square to top-score for West Indies) has had a couple of reasonable starts and a failure to boot, but given that he possesses a rather lower strike-rate than some of his more illustrious partners, he will need to kick on and convert it into a big hundred.
Zimbabwe’s batting has steadily deteriorated in the series, both, consistently and mathematically as the scores of 254, 206 and 104 exhibit. Vusi Sibanda (6/1 at Blue Square to be the best batsman of the side) hasn’t had a score of note after the first score of 95, while Stuart Matsikenyeri (8/1 at Boylesports to top-score for Zimbabwe) has failed in both the innings he has had a chance to bat on. Tatenda Taibu (4/1 at 888Sport to top-score for his side) had a century in the tour game, but his runs, much like his team’s exhibit a decline – a 56 followed by a 31 and a 1.
Unfortunately, putting one’s money on a Zimbabwean player is fraught with much more danger than the rest; inconsistencies in batting are almost paralleled by the poor strategies and selection. Hamilton Masakadza (7/2 at Blue Square) or Taibu look the only guys I will look at betting on to top-score for Zimbabwe.
Tips:
Favourites: West Indies (1/5 at Boylesports)
Top West Indian batsman: Adrian Barath (11/2 at Blue Square)
Top Zimbabwean batsman: Tatenda Taibu (4/1 at 888Sport)