The ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies got off to a high scoring start on Wednesday and it continues on Friday when the two teams meet for the second time in three at the Multan Cricket Stadium, the same venue as the opening game.
Pakistan drew first blood in the series by winning on Wednesday and more importantly for them bagged the World Cup qualifying points that went with it. West Indies will be wanting those points here to level up the series.
Pakistan
Given the quick nature of this series, Pakistan head into this second match knowing they could have the series wrapped up before the final game on Sunday if they can repeat the success of the first game on Wednesday. I think it is fair to say there would have been things that Pakistan would have liked and other bits of their display they will want to improve on. That does tend to be the case for teams who haven’t been in action in the lead up to a series.
Pakistan obviously batted very well to chase down over 300 on a tiring wicket. Their captain Babar Azam was in imperious looking form and when he goes well a decent score is almost guaranteed for Pakistan. Where they weren’t quite so good was with the ball. That was a bit of a surprise because each of their main bowlers had been in England playing county cricket over the last couple of months. It is never a bad thing for a team to have something to brush up on though.
West Indies
West Indies had been more active in the run up to that opening match than their opponents but the problem they had was they had been playing second string opposition in conditions very different to the ones they faced in Multan in the opening game. With that in mind I think the tourists would have been pretty pleased with the performance they put in even in defeat. With a little bit of tightening up and improvement here and there they might well be able to level the series.
The one thing West Indies have got going for them is their best player is in sublime form at the minute in Shai Hope. He has centuries in two of his last four ODIs and looks like he will push on with his good form. West Indies are missing some key bowlers and it showed in the opening match. They couldn’t quite maintain enough pressure on Babar Azam to make him do something daft and then got taken apart at the end of the innings. They can improve in that department.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account to get up to £25 in free bets! Perfect offer for this series! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Team News
On the face of it there is no need for Pakistan to change a winning combination. The only thing that could prompt a switch is the fact that the first game was played in intense heat so they might choose to rotate their bowlers. They might decide to leave that until the series is won though.
West Indies haven’t quite settled on an opening partner for Shai Hope yet. It was a surprise to see Nkrumah Bonner left out of the first game but he could come in here. Brandon King could be the one to miss out with Kyle Mayers dropping into the middle order.
Betting
I’ll go with the one bet for this match and that comes in the form of West Indies to hit the most sixes. They won the sixes battle 7-6 in the opening match but five of the Pakistan sixes in that contest came in the final 18 balls of the run chase so for much of the match it looked like West Indies were going to cruise to the most sixes. That is usually what happens in their matches because they are all natural colossal hitters of the ball.
West Indies put up seven sixes in the opening game without Rovman Powell hitting one. Even Kyle Mayers and Brandon King failed to clear the ropes and that doesn’t happen very often. There isn’t what you would call a natural six hitter in the top four for Pakistan so this match should follow a similar pattern with West Indies well in front in the six hitting in the early stages before the home side maybe come into things later in the innings. Overall though I expect the most sixes to come from West Indies again.
Tips
Back West Indies Most 6s for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Betway
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022
