West Indies play South Africa in Cardiff:

Interesting game on the cards

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

Two of the three losing teams - West Indies and South Africa will play an important game in Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff here, today.

West Indies beat Pakistan and lost to India, while South Africa lost to India and beat Pakistan.

Both teams have one match each. In the circumstances this game will be of importance to both teams if they are to book a semi-final berth. The teams who have some exiting stroke makers in this style of hit every ball cricket, will be hoping for a wicket where they could unleash their strokes and make the game an interesting one.

The wicket in which the Sri Lanka - New Zealand clash took place was very slow and did not allow the batsmen to give free rein to their strokes. Bowlers reveled on that wicket.

South Africa who beat Pakistan will want to give continuity to that win.

The West Indies who suffered a crushing defeat against India by eight wickets, will want to rediscover their winning ways. That South Africa lost to India was a setback to them. They are still keen to give their main bowler Dale Steyn a go. They badly missed his penetrative and aggressive bowling in both games. In addition they also lost Mornie Morkel to injury.

Their attack looks thin. Batsmen such as Colin Ingram, Hashim Amla, Skipper A.B.De Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Paul Duminy and Robin Petersen must score big runs to make up for their lack in bowling power.

As for the West Indies they sadly lack consistency. One day they can be brilliant, on another day simply mediocre. If they can put all pieces together, could upset the South Africans.

They will look to Chris Gayle to find form, get a big score and put them on course for a formidable score.

He has not made big scores in the two games and maybe this is the game he has been waiting for.

If he goes early, the West Indie batting tends to cave in. But if batsmen of the calibre of Johnson Charles who made a blazing half ton against India, Kieron Pollard and skipper Dwayne Bravo could strike, the South Africans could be sent on a leather hunt.

Left hand batsmen Darren Bravo, cousin of Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo has been a sad sack. In the game against India he played pat ball cricket, put the bowlers on top and the Windies innings lost momentum.

They will do better without him.

Sophia Gardens,

Cardiff, Thursday.