Windies hope to avoid a whitewash as ODI series heads to Hamilton
This is the final game of a three-match series. New Zealand won the opening two games which means this is effectively a dead rubber. A win for the Kiwis will mean a whitewash for the West Indies.
In scoring a century against New Zealand in the second ODI, Roston Chase has now reached three figures in ODIs against each of the ICC’s 11 full member nations. He is the first player to achieve the feat.
The opening stand between Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway in the second ODI, was the first century partnership for the first wicket for New Zealand in 73 ODIs.
New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell, who is the first Kiwi to be ranked number one ODI batsman in 46 years, looks set to miss the final game of the series as he recovers from injury.
New Zealand have won each of their last four ODIs against the West Indies.
New Zealand are the second ranked ODI side in the world while the West Indies are ninth.
As was the case in Napier, Mitchell Santner has been undefeated in four of his last ten ODI innings.
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
The West Indies have played just one previous ODI at Seddon Park, a 203-run win over New Zealand in 2014.
New Zealand have played 37 ODIs at the ground and have been beaten just seven times. They have been involved in three No Results and have won 27 times.
There is a slight advantage for teams batting second – the chasing side has won 24 times while the setting team has won 15.
The average first innings score at Seddon Park is 231.
The West Indies hold the record for highest score at the ground. They posted 363 for four in 50 overs back in 2014.
The lowest score made at the venue was India’s 92 all out against New Zealand in 2019.
The highest score successfully chased at the ground was New Zealand’s 350 for nine in 49.3 overs, made against Australia in 2019.
Weather:
It looks like we are set for good weather in Hamilton on Saturday. Expect fine and clear conditions. The day will be mostly sunny with a high temperature reaching approximately 23 degrees and a low of around 12. There is a very slight chance of rain. The dry weather follows a week that included heavy rain on Wednesday.
Form (most recent game first):
New Zealand: W, W, W, W, W.
West Indies: L, L, L, W, L.
Key player:
New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra: Ravindra has never gone more than nine ODI’s without a century and Hamilton will be his seventh game since last raising his bat for three figures. That means he is due a ton soon. His form was good in Napier as he stroked a brisk 56. He averages 42.72 in ODIs and is playing with confidence. Expect him to continue from where he left off last time out.
West Indies, Shai Hope: Averaging 71 runs per innings from his last ten times at bat, Hope became the first ever player to score ODI centuries against each of the ICCs 11 Full Member nations. He is a man in form and a skipper desperate to lead his team to victory. He was quite clear when he spoke to the media after the Napier game that his undefeated knock of 109 had not been enough. Expect him to go big again in Hamilton.
Verdict: West Indies
The Windies have come close in the previous games and missed out narrowly and they will be determined not to be whitewashed. They were outstanding on their last visit to the ground, although that was more than a decade ago. But with New Zealand perhaps inclined to relax now that the series is in the bag, expect the tourists to come hard.
