Tri-Series 2016, Match 9 Preview: West Indies, South Africa gear up for a do-or-die clash

South Africa and West Indies will take on each other at the Providence stadium, Barbados with a cloud of elimination looming over their heads. Tomorrow’s game, which is the last f the league stage, will decide who will go on to meet Australia in the finals. While the Proteas can blame the rain gods for this situation, the West Indies are themselves responsible for their condition.

West Indies inflicted a loss at the hands of the Australians in their previous encounter, making their road to the final tougher. Proteas will feel bit unlucky after their crucial encounter against Australia was washed out. Record wise speaking, both team, with a 1-1 equation, stands equal in term of the head to head record in the series.

South Africa:

If the current form is considered, South Africa will certainly start out as the favourites on paper. The top order is in wonderful form. The young-experienced pair of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock along with the likes of Faf du Plessis and skipper AB de Villiers are in great tough.

All rounders Chris Morris, Farhaan Behardien and JP Duminy are complete assets. They will also seek inspiration from their thumping performance against the hosts when they met on the last occasion. Everything looks sorted out in the bowling department as well. The pace bowling attack led by the young Kagiso Rabada along with the spin twin Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi will test the West Indians.

Probable XI:

Quinton de Kock (w), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi.

West Indies:

The problem lies in the top order for West Indies. The top three comprising of Andre Fletcher, Johnston Charles and Darren Bravo have blown hot and cold throughout the series. Their failure has put West Indies in bothersome situations on couple of occasions.

The Fletcher-Charles duo can squash the opposition bowlers within a matter of few over and have to at their attacking best if the hosts seek to have an edge over the position. The middle order responsibilities will once again be on Marlon Samuels who struck a wonderful century last game. West Indies captain Jason Holder, who was as forced from the field with a left hamstring strain, will undergo an assessment on the morning of the game day, to determine his fitness to play.

Shannon Gabriel justified his inclusion with a satisfactory show. Kieron Pollard and Carlos Braithwaite will share the rest of the bowling responsibilities. Jonathan Carter is the only suitable option in the squad who can replace him if in case he misses out. In the spin department Sunil Narine has been wicketless since the last three games and one can expect him to wise up the occasion and produce a similar 6 wicket haul sort of performance against the Proteas.

Probable XI:

Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder (C)/Jonathan Carter, Sunil Narine, Sulieman Benn, Shannon Gabriel