India Eye 6th Straight ODI Series Win

Kanpur: Unfavourable bowling conditions had pegged them back in the last match but India will look to assert their supremacy and clinch the series against the West Indies when the two teams clash in the decisive third one-day international on Wednesday.

India have been a dominant force in this contest since West Indies' arrival to the country but the hosts suffered a surprise two-wicket defeat in Visakhapatnam, failing to defend a competitive total under difficult conditions.

That victory must have boosted confidence of the West Indies who would now aim to leave the country by pocketing at least the ODI series, following their debacle in the Tests.

They, for the first time on this tour, will approach a match with self-belief and confidence.

For India, it is last international match at home before they embark on a challenging tour against South Africa and they would like to finish this series on a high.

The Indian batting line-up sports a solid look. Barring a few individuals, the batting department is in great form in the recent past.

The top three -- Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni -- have been the real force behind India's batting.

Both Dhawan and Yuvraj have some work to do as they have been throwing their wickets away after getting starts. But Dhoni, who struck a quick-fire 51 in the last to propel India to 288, backed Yuvraj to strike form in the upcoming matches, terming the left-hander as vital cog in India's middle-order.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been doing a decent job with his slow left-armers, too would be desperate to return among runs.

Pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma leaked runs in Visakhapatnam. Dew did not help their cause as they struggled to grip the ball and handed out loose deliveries to the West Indies batsmen.

And come Wednesday, the trio would be hoping to make up in better conditions.

The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja, as usual, has been miser with the ball and the two bowlers would like to carry on their good show to help India clinch the series.

West Indies, on the other hand, did just enough to secure the win in the second match.

Kieran Powell, who has replaced injured Chris Gayle in the playing eleven, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy scored crucial half-centuries to help the Caribbean side in securing their maiden win on the tour.

However, one thing which would be worrying skipper Dwayne Bravo is his batsmen's inability to convert the starts into big scores and come Wednesday he would be hoping for a substantial contribution from one of his top-order batsmen.

Even though bowling still remains a concern for West Indies, the visiting bowling attack played a key role in keeping the series alive with an improved showing towards the end of the last match to restrict India to 288, who at one stage were on 194 for 3 in the 36th over, with Kohli on course for an 18th ODI century.

Ravi Rampaul, Jason Holder and Sunil Narine pulled the visitors back. Narine bowled his last five overs in the last match for just eight runs, bowling two maidens while Rampaul took the wickets.

Despite Dhoni's assault towards the end, a total of 95 in the last 15 overs meant a manageable chase, which became easier as the dew

Teams from:

India: MS Dhoni (Capt.), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Jaydev Unadkat, Vinay Kumar, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma and Amit Mishra.

West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (Capt.), Johnson Charles (wk), Kieran Powell, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Narsingh Deonarine, Darren Sammy, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Tino Best and Veerasammy Permaul.

Pitch and conditions
Expectations of bat dominating ball should be reined in as a score over 260 was reached only once in Kanpur. The seamers could have an enjoyable first hour, too, given the early morning start.

Stats and trivia

• Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan completes 1000 in ODIs for 2013.
• West Indies have crossed 250 six times in 22 matches this year, two of which were against Zimbabwe. They have been bundled out below 100 twice in the same period.
• India have won last five ODI series -- against (England, Australia and Zimbabwe), Champions Trophy and tri series in West Indies. If win at Kanpur this will be 6th successfull series win.
• India have lost three out of 11 ODIs played in Kanpur. They lost to West Indies in 1994.

Match facts
Wednesday November 27, 2013
Start time 0900 local (0330 GMT)