Final ODI: India on Verge of Series Victory

Showers are threatening to disrupt the final game of the series between the West Indies (-105) and India (-135) with either team hoping for victory for very different reasons.

After losing game three thanks to rain with the game decided by Duckworth-Lewis, the West Indies need to win the final game to tie the series.

It’s a series that they should have led however losses in games one and three meant that they need a big effort to stave off India who, after this match will get more than six weeks off after a torturous calendar that has seen them playing non-stop cricket for almost six months.

And if they are to win then they must remove the man that has proven to be a thorn in their side the entire series – MS Dhoni.

Without Dhoni, India would have struggled in two of the three matches and is a linchpin to their success.

His 95 in game two enabled India to set the Windies a chase of 188 when they were at one stage reeling at 8/82.

In game three, his 46 not out from 34 balls was as timely as they come.

Needing 11 off the last over chasing the West Indies 186, Dhoni smacked the second ball far into the bleachers of Beausejour Cricket Ground at Gros Islet in St Lucia. The rest was elementary.

With rain predicted for this match, it makes it even harder to pick a winner but I have a sneaking suspicion that India will get home in a tight one.

If the Windies are to succeed they will need to make sure Dhoni has no impact on the game however they must also be careful in not focusing all their attention on the talismanic skipper.