Rising

The West Indies has moved back into triple figures in the LG ICC ODI Championship table despite a disappointing start to its series in Zimbabwe.

Sunday’s fifth and final match of the series was abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled but the men from the Caribbean had done enough in the past week to take the series victory and head back up towards the top seven teams on the ladder.

Having lost the first ODI in Harare, the West Indies dropped down to 99 rating points but by winning the three next matches it got back up to 100.

Given that Zimbabwe is some 80 points below the West Indies on the Championship table, a victory over Prosper Utseya’s side does not carry as much weight in the points system as it would against a higher-ranked team.

The challenge for Chris Gayle’s men is likely to be much stiffer next time they take the field for an ODI because it will be against second-placed South Africa, who will have an eye on overtaking Australia at the very top.

That five-match series will get underway in Centurion on 20 January and another good showing from the West Indies will see it put pressure on England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka immediately ahead of it.

Meanwhile, following its impressive start to the series where it won the opening ODI in Harare, Zimbabwe failed to continue that form and still lie in 11th position in the LG ICC ODI Championship table, eight points adrift of Ireland in 10th spot.

LG ICC ODI Championship (as of 9 December)

1. Australia (128)

2. South Africa (124)

3. New Zealand (113)

4. India (110)

5. Sri Lanka (108)

6. Pakistan (107)

7. England (107)

8. West Indies (100)

9. Bangladesh (48)

10. Ireland (28)

11. Zimbabwe (20)

12. Kenya (0)

__________________
please join the forum and post