West Indies vs England Prediction: WI are eager to perform at home

West Indies and England are going head to head in the 2nd Match of One Day Series at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Saint George, Antigua and Barbuda on 06 Dec 2023. England has not performed well in recent games and West Indies have been good at home. Who will win this game of cricket?

The West Indies had a break of over 3 months from international commitments after failing to qualify for the ODI World Cup. During this break, they performed exceptionally well by winning a match against the visitors by 4 wickets, giving them the opportunity to win the series in this game. The West Indies didn't start the match well when they were asked to bowl first. Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph were not effective with the new ball. However, the introduction of Gudakesh Motie helped slow down the scoring rate and also resulted in a much-needed breakthrough. Motie performed excellently, taking two wickets for just 49 runs, while the other bowlers struggled and leaked runs. Yannic Cariah was particularly expensive, giving away 76 runs.

While chasing the challenging target of 326, Alick Athanaze and Brandon King gave the hosts a strong start by putting up a century stand for the opening wicket. However, the openers and Keacy Carty were dismissed quickly, which posed a threat to the West Indies' chase. Skipper Shai Hope performed exceptionally well by partnering with Hetmeyer and scoring a memorable century to keep his team in the hunt. Romario Shepherd also played an excellent cameo, scoring 49 runs in just 28 deliveries, which helped the team secure victory.

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

The England team is currently facing a series of misfortunes. Following their disappointing performance in the World Cup, they are now at risk of losing their first bilateral series against the West Indies in nearly four years. Despite making several changes to their squad since the World Cup, with only six players being retained, this has had no significant impact on the team's success. Phil Salt and Will Jacks provided a strong start for the team, scoring 77 runs in the first eight overs. However, England's continuous loss of wickets prevented them from fully capitalizing on this initial advantage. Zak Crawley and Harry Brook showcased impressive performances in the middle order, with the latter even scoring a half-century. Yet, concerns remain regarding the performances of Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, and Liam Livingstone. Additionally, the team's bowling performance was mediocre. Sam Curran, in particular, remained without a wicket and conceded 10 runs per over. Both Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson faced significant difficulties as well. On the other hand, Rehan Ahmed stood out as the most successful bowler, taking two wickets, and will play a vital role in the upcoming match.

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

It is highly likely that the team that wins the toss will choose to bowl first. The pitch seems favourable for batting, as evidenced by the high scoring in the previous match with over 650 runs. Although there are patches of grass on the surface, it is unlikely to assist the seamers significantly. However, the spinners can expect some grip and turn. To give the bowlers a fair chance at defending, the team batting first will aim to score at least 330 runs. There might be some drizzles in the morning, but the weather is expected to clear up by the afternoon. The temperatures during the match will range between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. Considering England's recent performance, it will be challenging for them to make a comeback. On the other hand, the West Indies, who are eager to prove themselves after a long break, have a good chance of winning again. It is advisable to place a bet on the West Indies to win.