West Indies vs England Prediction: England posses better batting lineup

West Indies and England are going head to head in the 3rd Match of the One Day International Series at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on 09 Dec 2023. The series is tied at 1-1 with the third and final game being played in Barbados. England came back strongly in the second game to level up the series. Who will win this game of cricket and the series?

The West Indies were fortunate to secure a victory in the first match, as the chances of winning after the 40th Over of their innings were less than 3%. Shai Hope and Romario Shepherd displayed exceptional individual brilliance to win the game. However, expecting the same performance in the next match would be unwise. The latest match showcased a return to form for the West Indies, although their batting struggled overall. Only Shai Hope put up a notable fight, following his century in the opening match with a fifty. He remains the key wicket for the entire game. Alick Athanaze, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, and Sherfane Rutherford are all reliable players, but consistency is not their strong suit. The team heavily relies on Hope, and if he gets out early, the West Indies might struggle to put up a fight. In terms of bowling, Motie has been outstanding both in taking wickets and maintaining an economical bowling rate. The faster bowlers, particularly Alzarri Joseph, have been expensive and unable to maintain pressure on the English batsmen. Romari Shepherd has been successful in taking wickets and looks like a promising choice for this match.

Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (wk/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas

England bounced back strongly in the second ODI following a disappointing performance in the first match. Sam Curran, despite his costly performance in the previous game, displayed exceptional bowling skills and captured three valuable wickets. Liam Livingstone also contributed with three wickets, while Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson took two wickets each. The English bowlers were highly effective in maintaining control over the West Indian batsmen. Consequently, it is anticipated that the bowling lineup will remain unchanged for the upcoming match. However, the bowlers will face a challenge if they fail to secure early wickets with the new ball, although the spinners have instilled confidence with their successful performances. 

On the other hand, the batting lineup started aggressively right from the beginning. Will Jacka showcased his power by hitting four boundaries and maintained his momentum despite losing partners. Crawley and Duckett, on the other hand, need to find their footing to stabilize the English top order. The performances of Harry Brook and Jos Buttler will significantly bolster the confidence of the English team. Considering the overall comparison between England and the West Indies, even though England experienced difficulties in the ODIs, they still outperform the West Indies in various aspects. 

Philip Salt, Will Jacks, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (wk/c), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Brydon Carse, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson

The upcoming match will take place at Barbados, a venue where the team winning the coin toss and choosing to chase has been victorious in 57% of the matches. This provides a significant advantage, and we believe that both teams will prefer to chase if given the opportunity.

There is no forecasted rain in Bridgetown, Barbados on the day of the match, but there may be some clouds present. Examining the statistics, the average score at this venue is 227 overall. However, recent data from the past five years shows that the scores have been much higher. The pitch typically offers good bounce and pace, allowing both teams' stroke makers to capitalize on the conditions. We anticipate a score of around 270-300.

England possesses a stronger batting lineup in terms of power, although their high-risk style of play makes them susceptible to collapses. On the other hand, the West Indies appear to heavily rely on Shai Hope. Although the odds for an England victory are not the most favorable, we still believe it is wise to support the visiting team in this match. With their best batter in form and a strong bowling attack, England should have an edge in this contest. Therefore, we recommend betting on England to win.