West Indies v South Africa | 4th ODI | Dominica | 30/5/2010

[Sir john]

West Indies hunt for elusive victory

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran

May 29, 2010
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Match Facts
Sunday May 30, 2010
Start time 09.30 local, 13.30 GMT

The Big Picture

Morne Morkel was too hostile for Afghanistan's batsmen, Afghanistan v South Africa, ICC World Twenty20, Bridgetown, May 5, 2010
Morne Morkel has been in top form all series © AFP
Related Links
Matches: West Indies v South Africa at Roseau
Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of West Indies
Teams: South Africa | West Indies

An uncomplicated series victory is just what Graeme Smith wanted after a botched World Twenty20 campaign, which had prompted stinging criticism from the South African board. Less than three weeks on, the Cricket South Africa president, Gerald Majola, is lauding the "skill, steel and savvy" of the team and egging them on to complete yet another clean sweep of the West Indies.

While South Africa have clearly been a class apart from their opponents, it is in the batting that the disparity between the two sides has been the greatest. The West Indies batsmen haven't displayed the application and shot selection necessary to compile big scores, highlighted by the lack of half-centuries in two of the three ODIs in this series so far. Even when the visitors' in-form batting unit flopped on Friday, West Indies' batting proved even more underwhelming to fall short by 67 runs when chasing a moderate target.

South Africa have also been smart with their bowling strategies. For example, the potentially explosive Kieron Pollard is usually tested early in his innings by the express pace of Dale Steyn, and after Darren Sammy's carnage in the second one-dayer he was bombarded with bouncers two days ago, barely getting anything to drive.

In a plain-spoken assessment of the ills of Caribbean cricket WICB's chief executive, Ernest Hilaire, had said the region needs three more years for a turnaround in its cricketing fortunes. After a week of thoroughly dispiriting cricket from Chris Gayle's side, it is hard to contest Hilaire's appraisal.

Form guide (most recent first)
South Africa WWWWL
West Indies LLLWW

Watch out for...
Morne Morkel has been in top form all series, and it was his intervention that started the turnaround for South Africa in the third ODI after a lacklustre batting performance. His two wickets helped put the squeeze after a free-flowing start to the West Indies chase, and a couple of late wickets boosted his series tally to 10, twice as much as the next highest wicket-taker.

West Indies' bowlers pulled it back on Friday after South Africa's top order had made yet another ominously solid start. Ravi Rampaul typified their resilience by returning strongly after being pasted for 21 runs in his first three overs. There were no boundaries in his other overs, and he used the short ball to good effect to choke the runs.

Team news
Despite the poor batting effort on Friday, West Indies are likely to stick to the same XI given the lack of options in the 13-man squad. The changes that could be made are bringing in either Narsingh Deonarine, who was dropped after the first two one-dayers, or David Bernard, who may edge out opener Dale Richards.

West Indies (probable): Chris Gayle (capt), Dale Richards, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul, Sulieman Benn

With the series already in the bag, South Africa will look to use the remaining matches to test their talent pool in international arena. The likes of JP Duminy and Mark Boucher could also be given a chance to regain form, though it remains to be seen what sort of changes the South African think-tank decide to opt for.

South Africa (probable): Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, AB de Villiers (wk), Alviro Petersen, David Miller, Johan Botha, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Charl Landeveldt, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Stats and trivia

* South Africa have lost only one ODI to West Indies in the previous five years, winning 14 of the previous 15 matches between the two teams
* AB de Villiers has four hundreds and a fifty in his past eight innings, a spell during which he averages 99.50
* West Indies have been defeated in all three matches held at Windsor Park so far

Quotes
"We still have two games to play, and all we can do is keep working hard at it."
Chris Gayle

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo
RSS Feeds: Siddarth Ravindran

west indies need to win this one badly.gayle should fire today.

 

[adnan yasin]

I think Gayle is under tremendous pressure ...because of his captaincy ...he is not that GAYLE which we know.. who murdered the bowling attack... he has to get back his own game... he is very much subdued now ... its harming WI now ..

He should play carefree

 

[Amjid Javed]

* South Africa have lost only one ODI to West Indies in the previous five years, winning 14 of the previous 15 matches between the two teams

Thats a sorry record for W.I

Cant see that fortune changing either!

 

[Atif]

4th ODI: West Indies v South Africa at Roseau, May 30, 2010

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat


West Indies team

CH Gayle*, DM Richards, S Chanderpaul, DM Bravo, DJ Bravo, KA Pollard, D Ramdin†, DE Bernard, DJG Sammy, SJ Benn, R Rampaul

South Africa team

GC Smith*, HM Amla, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers†, DA Miller, JP Duminy, J Botha, R McLaren, LL Tsotsobe, M Morkel, CK Langeveldt

 

[Atif]

5/0 from first over

 

[Atif]

7/0 from 2 overs

 

[Atif]

10/0 from 3 over, a slow start for the Windies

 

[Atif]

Top Edge for 6 from Dale Richards

 

[Sir john]

indies batting first.

 

[Mobashir]

Why isn't Sky sports showing it???

 

[Atif]

Why isn't Sky sports showing it???

Sky Sports are showing it, Channel 401, you will have to press the red button to select the match

 

[Mobashir]

Sky Sports are showing it, Channel 401, you will have to press the red button to select the match

Ok thanks...

 

[Atif]

43/0 after 7 overs. Gaye is beginning to get into his groove

 

[Sir john]

indies batting well today

 

[Atif]

58/0 after 9 overs

Make that 62/0 after 9.1 overs

 

[iHammad]

West Indies 73/1 (14.2 ov)

Gayle out lol

 

[hamzie]

going good still

 

[Atif]

126/2 after 26 overs

 

[Sir john]

191/2 in 38 overs,shiva and bravo playing well.

 

[siccric]

It's nice to see some new names for West Indies scoring some runs too

Over the last few years, they've been so heavily reliant on Gayle, Chanderpaul, Sarwan and to a certain extent Bravo to do the job for them but Richards, Darren Bravo and Pollard have shown that there is other talent in the West Indian batting department


296/6 after 49 overs

 

[Sir john]

It's nice to see some new names for West Indies scoring some runs too

Over the last few years, they've been so heavily reliant on Gayle, Chanderpaul, Sarwan and to a certain extent Bravo to do the job for them but Richards, Darren Bravo and Pollard have shown that there is other talent in the West Indian batting department


296/6 after 49 overs

richards is 34 year old,not a young gun.

indies make 303 runs,a challenge to africa.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Windies are a disgrace, Why do they even bother.

Half of them look like they can't even be bothered to be out there.

 

[Rizie]

WI on course to lose all games ala Pakistan against Australia

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Fielding was pathetic today. These guys make the Indian lot look good.

 

[*sallu*]

Gayle seems angry
very very angry

 

[Sir john]

Benn was hilarious in field,a poor filder.need to drop him.darren bravo can bat but not field well.
At last big bravo bowl superbly.good match.