West Indies and Pakistan will try again on Saturday when they meet for the second of what is scheduled to be four T20 internationals. This is effectively the first one though after the match earlier in the week was washed out apart from nine overs.
That will have frustrated the two teams who are eager for more match practice in preparation for the upcoming World T20. They move to Guyana for the last three matches and will be hoping that the weather improves on this island so they can get a game in.
West Indies
We did see nine overs with the West Indies batting in the previous game and what we saw was largely what we’ve had from West Indies in this format throughout the year. That means everything was either six or out. To be fair to them it was a nine over slog so everything did have to go but I keep on pointing to their inability of unwillingness to rotate the strike and how it is going to catch up with them at some point.
If that is going to happen then a traditionally sluggish and tough to time the ball on Guyana wicket might well be where it does so, so it will be interesting to see how they go about their business here. The one thing they do have going for them, which we haven’t seen in this series but did in the previous one against Australia, is their bowlers who are very solid and might well be even more awkward in these Guyanese conditions.
Pakistan
I would imagine it will be Pakistan who were left most frustrated with the rain coming when it did in the previous game. They bowled well and although they still had to chase a score down, they weren’t being faced with a daunting total or anything like that. We’re going to find out a lot more about Pakistan in this match because they are likely to have to bat and that is always the question mark that hangs over this side, although maybe not as much as in the past.
The positive Pakistan take into this match is how well they bowled in those nine overs in the last game. Bowlers are on a hiding to nothing at the best of times let alone when a game is shortened to that level so they should be very encouraged by the way they bowled first up. If there is a bit of improvement to come now they have settled into the conditions then they are going to be in a very good place in terms of their chances of winning this match.
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Team News
West Indies might be forced into a change after a blow to the neck forced Lendl Simmons to retire hurt in the previous game. If he is unable to line up then you would imagine Andre Fletcher is a natural replacement to open the batting.
Pakistan will be forced into a change with Azam Khan ruled out of the game after taking a blow to the head in training. Mohammad Nawaz or Sarfaraz Ahmed are the leading options to replace him in the middle order.
Betting
I think Pakistan might be a little underestimated here. Injuries have been hitting West Indies over the last few weeks and it looks like they will be forced into another change here too. All that disruption doesn’t really help preparation. The other thing that goes against West Indies from here on in are these sluggish conditions in Guyana. That isn’t to say that one of their power hitters can’t explode because they are so powerful but conditions don’t help them in that quest.
Pakistan look to be bowling very well at the minute. They weren’t a million miles away from touching England off in the lead up to this series and they went well in the opening match. We’ll find out just how good they are in the series here when they have the bat in their hand but historically they have been best in tougher conditions when you don’t have to smack it to all parts and put 200 on the board. That won’t be needed here so I’m happy to take Pakistan.
Tips
Back Pakistan to beat West Indies for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
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