1st ODI: West Indies v Pakistan - St Vincent

[Occasional Fan]

No definitive news on toss or teams at the moment, but the series gets under way at 1435 BST (1335 GMT) - fifteen minutes or so from now. Surprised not to find a match thread open already, but here it is. Your comments here, please.

[Maranello]

Yes should be an interesting game, as I *sob sob* join OF in following it over the cyber ether and not at home on the broadcast provided by that nice Mr. Murdoch.

ZR, please do update when you find out something...eg toss, teams, etc. Of course Lara has been "rested" for the whole series, so we might see a more cohesive WI effort.

[Pete]

West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl first. Here's hoping Afridi blasts them all around the park

[Ninjaman]

Originally Posted by Pete

West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl first. Here's hoping Afridi blasts them all around the park

Don't be so quick Pete.

Apparently, I've even read it on these boards, Lara was intimidating the other players.

His brilliance was causing the team to underperform.

Now he has been rested, the rest of the players will no longer underperform but the top order will bat like Viv and Tendulkar and the middle order will bat the ODIs like Bevan.

And our bowlers will be as if it was Akram and Younis followed by Walsh and Ambrose with Warne and a Murali/Warne clone for the other 10 overs.

Did I mention the Jonty Rhodes fielding too?

I must say that I only see West Indies series win.

[Zainub]

While I would refrain from saying it will be an easy for either Pakistan, I definately believe Pakistan start as favorites. And should, if they play to their potential win this and as well as the test series given the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two sides.

[Zainub]

70-2 at the drinks break, Afridi was looking good before he was run out in somewhat bizzarre (sp?) circumstances, then Malik was caught behind off Bradshow. Slowish out field - and some boune in the pitch. Not all plain sailing fors the batsmen, thought more credit to the Windies who have so far bowled with dicipline - Butt looks goot after an initial period where he struggled with his footwork. Good crowd in as well.

[Maranello]

ZR, what was so bizarre about the circumstance of his dismissal?

[Zainub]

Well, his bat sort of got stuck in the ground while he was attempting to complete the run - and I've never seen anything like that before. Because of that his bat fell out of his hand and consequentially he was run out.

[Captain]

Gayle has done Pak. in. are now at 190-8, looks like they got over confidant after a good start

[Captain]

now 191 for 9 its frustating that they can't play like they should all the time. Here is hopin Shabbir and Naveed are in top form. The batting was fine in the practice match, maybe Lara does have a jinx on the WI team.