West Indies end their horror tour of the UAE over the next five days when they take on Pakistan in the third and final Test match in Sharjah. This will be the ninth international match that the Caribbean men have played on this tour and amazingly they are still looking for their first win.
Another emphatic win in the second Test last week has already guaranteed Pakistan the series win but they will be hunting a third whitewash of the Windies in three different formats over the last six weeks or so.
Pakistan
In many ways there is a case to be made that Pakistan came of age in the previous Test match. I say that because at 129/3 in years gone by they might have felt the pressure and crumbled but instead they didn’t panic and pushed on to build a total in which they were able to control the match from. Whisper it quietly but Pakistan might just be maturing.
One area where they didn’t need any coming of age was with the ball. We’ve seen probably for 12 months now that they have a wonderful attack regardless of the conditions and if one big name doesn’t get you another will. When you think they were without Mohammad Amir for the last match and they still won comfortably it all bodes well.
West Indies
As has been the case in most of the Test matches that the West Indies have played this year they keep getting into positions where the door opens for them to get ahead in the match but they either don’t have the knowhow to enhance those positions or they simply aren’t good enough and that has been the difference.
The big factor for the West Indies here is their motivation. We’ve heard plenty of sound bites from them about how they want to improve as a side and if that is the case we should see them motivated and wanting to win the Test match. Talk is cheap though and they need to do it on the field.
Team News
Misbah has hinted that he could change the bowling attack for his side to keep everyone fresh although who would miss out is yet to be determined. Sohail Khan has played a fair bit of cricket in recent months and he could make way for someone.
West Indies are expected to bring Shane Dowrich back into the side after he has recovered from the issue which kept him out of the previous match. It could be that Miguel Cummins makes way for him but in truth Darren Bravo aside none of the top order would be safe.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Given the amount of one day cricket which has been played on this ground it is something of a surprise that this is just the ninth Test match to be held here. Pakistan only have a 4-3 winning record here with a draw mixed in. West Indies have lost both of the Tests they have played on this ground.
By UAE standards this is a pretty low scoring ground. In those previous eight matches there has only been one score over 500 which is against the grain so to speak so we can expect the bowlers to be in the game throughout here.
Betting
I can’t see beyond a Pakistan win here but I won’t back it as I’m already on them at a pretty tasty price having backed them to win the series 3-0 before it started but there is one bet I do like heading into the game.
Rahat Ali impressed me in England and I fancy in these conditions he could be worth backing to nail over 1.5 wickets in the first innings. He took three in the first innings in Abu Dhabi in the last match and in conditions here which should suit the bowlers a whole lot more I’m expecting his potency to be even stronger. I like the over on that line.
Tips
VOID – Back R.Ali Over 1.5 1st Inns Wickets for a 3/10 stake at 2.05 with Coral
Back him here:
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