West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Preview: Resurgent Windies aim to seal the series

The West Indies side stunned the Pakistan team in the first ODI at the Providence. Little did the visitors know that they will be up against the brutal hitting of Jason Mohammed in the game. The young star has already carved a name for himself in the short ODI career that he has had thus far. It was his powershow that saw the hosts register their second win during this ongoing tour, the first one being in the T20Is.

Prior to the commencement of the series, nobody had given the hosts a sniff in the series. This was largely due to the fact that they were drubbed 0-3 in their most recent international ODI series plus the fact that the Pakistanis had managed to inflict a 3-1 win over them in the T20I series. With no hopes going on their side, the West Indies side arrived in the first ODI.

They had a mammoth total of 309 to undertake and things were only meant to go worse for the hosts. However, some splendid batting – a rarity considering their recent form – was on the cards that saw them register a record run chase. Now, they find themselves in an unusual position from wherein they can seal an important series win in the 3-match series. A win in the second ODI will give them an unassailable lead in the series.

Focus will be on

Sarfraz Ahmed

The Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has not been in the best of the forms in the recent times. More importantly, he has not got the due share of his batting either. Hence, it will not be wrong to say that he is yet to be tested on the tour. In addition to that, his captaincy has not been spot on either. He has largely struggled in crunch situations. As it was seen in the last match, he was found absolutely wanting when the likes of Jason Mohammed took a heavy toll on the Pakistani bowlers in the final overs.

Jason Mohammed

In his very short career, Jason Mohammed has managed to prove that he is the next big thing in West Indies cricket. The West Indies side has always craved for a player who could take up responsibility in the middle order in the recent times. They have always felt an absence of a player who would take up that role. Now, with Mohammed finding his feet in the set up, the question seems to be answered pretty well. He struck a belligerent 91 to help the side win the first ODI and now will have the eyes glued to him for the important second game as well.

Wahab Riaz

Undoubtedly, Wahab Riaz is one of the best pace bowlers to have played for the men in green in the recent generation. He has been a key wicket taking option for the national side. However, despite his wicket taking ability, he has struggled to keep the run flow in check. He has been wayward with his bowling lines and that has seen him go for a plenty of runs in the death overs. He went for as many as 69 runs in his 9 overs during the first ODI of the series and that explains the kind of form he has been in during the recent times.

Team Combination – West Indies

The West Indies team is unlikely to tinker with their winning combination. It has been long since the hosts won a first match of a bilateral series against a major team. Openers Evin Lewis and Chadwick Walton have shown form in brief spells and they will have to power some runs at the top. Kieran Powell and Shai Hope come in next with their power hitting abilities.

Then comes the new found batting sensation Jason Mohammed. Having the likes of Jonathan Carter and Jason Holder in the lower middle order has only bolstered their hitting ability towards the slog overs. Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo are likely to retain their places in the line up. In the pace department, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph have been doing a decent job.

Team Combination – Pakistan

The Pakistani team has found themselves with a bit of selection conundrum for the match. The way Mohammad Hafeez got about his innings in the first match was a bit amusing considering the slowness of the knock. He did make up for it in the end overs but the run flow was choked for the initial bit. Despite all this, they might have go with him yet again in the second ODI.

The bowling for the visitors was very disappointing as they were found wanting for options when the West Indies batsmen switched gears. Wahab Riaz was very expensive in the final overs and he might well have to pave way for someone like Junaid Khan. Or perhaps it could be Mohammad Amir making way for him.

West Indies Probable XI:

Evin Lewis, Chadwick Walton, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Jason Mohammad, Jonathan Carter, Jason Holder (c), Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel

Pakistan Probable XI:

Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam, Mohammed Hafees, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan.

StatAttack

0 – The number of ODI series won by West Indies since August 2014. They last beat Bangladesh in 2014.

25 – The last time West Indies beat Pakistan in a bilateral ODI series was 25 years ago in 1991.

2 – Number of times Jason Mohammed has scored less than 50 in his last 7 innings.