West Indies v Australia - 4th ODI

This one-day series has been so one-sided it has been ridiculous. The 2-0 Test scoreline was not reflective of the closeness of that series but the 3-0 one-day scoreline totally reflects Australia's overwhelming dominance. The West Indies have been in such a shambles they have not scored more than 223 in the three matches and Australia's trio of wins have all come by comprehensive margins.

The West Indies have already lost the five-match series but they may see a small light at the end of the tunnel with Australian skipper Ricky Ponting ruled out of the fourth match at St Kitts with a wrist injury. Victorian batsman David Hussey will make his ODI debut to replace Ponting in the only change to the Australian side which claimed a series-clinching win in Grenada last weekend.

The West Indies seem set to make a barrage of changes with Patrick Browne, Sulieman Benn and Kieron Pollard all axed while Jerome Taylor is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Key batsmen Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul are all still struggling with niggling injuries so the West Indies look just about zero chance of a win here. But rather than taking the prohibitive odds on the Aussies (without Ponting) we will be looking for other ways to make money.

One key factor to consider here is that the Warner Park Ground is a small one with a traditionally good batting pitch so big scores are likely to be the norm here. The Australians' lowest total in their three previous games here is 334 and they will be looking to take advantage of the tiny boundaries like they did at the World Cup last year. We reckon this small ground with its true pitch is custom made for big individual scores because batsmen will be just about impossible to get out once they are in. In the seven one-day international matches at this venue there have been plenty of big scores (if you discount some of the minnow nations that batted here during last year's World Cup.)

Every time there is a big team score there is invariably a big individual score and for this reason we like Blue Square's market on the highest individual score in the match. The 100 or more option is listed at $2.30 and we like that for a one unit bet. Start cheering for a batsman from either side to reach triple figures on a pitch and ground which should be a batting paradise.

© 2008 Punting Ace.com

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