WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CMC) – Riding a wave of enthusiasm stemming from their impressive win in their last outing, West Indies will chase an unassailable 2-0 lead when they clash with New Zealand in the third One-Day International of the five-match series today.

The tourists beat the Black Caps with a ball to spare in Christchurch last Saturday in a game reduced to 28 overs per side, and now believe they can repeat that feat when their latest encounter bowls off at the Westpac Stadium at 4:00 h (21:00 h Tuesday Eastern Caribbean time).

Crucially, both teams will be hoping for a full match especially with both matches in the series to date hit by rain.

The opening ODI in Queenstown was abandoned after just 36 overs while the second match saw a significant reduction in overs after the inclement weather carved a four-hour chunk out of the encounter.

The win in Christchurch was particularly important for the tourists after they had lost their last eight ODIs to top-ranked opposition last year, and vice-captain Denesh Ramdin said the triumph had given the side renewed energy and confidence.

“It was a good way to start the year and we will be looking for more success. We have made our plans and will be looking to execute,” said the wicketkeeper/batsman.

“We have the lead now and will be looking for another victory when we take the field tomorrow. We have been putting in hard work in the nets and we aim to get more positive results.”

He continued: “The mood in the camp is good. With 40 needed in four overs (in the last ODI) some teams might not have been able to get over the line, but it was great we are able to do it and we did it in style. We had that belief and it is the same belief we will take into the third match.”

Ramdin played a key role in the Windies’ five-wicket win in Christchurch. Entering with West Indies struggling at 110 for five in the 23rd over in chase of 158 for victory, the right-hander slammed 28 from 18 balls in a 48-run, unbroken sixth-wicket stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan, to guide the regional side to victory.

While Sarwan kept the innings together with a classy 67 from 65 balls, it was Ramdin’s cameo that gave West Indies impetus in the closing stages of the game.

The 23-year-old, under fire for his lean form during the series and in a recent time, said the innings had boosted his confidence level as well.

“The innings on Saturday night has given me a lot of confidence. Any person who gets a start and goes on in a game like that, it is bound to give him confidence,” said Ramdin.

“I believe we have momentum going forward. The Test series ended in a deadlock, the T20s (Twenty20s) finished 1-1 so it was good we moved ahead in the 50-over format.”

West Indies have also been lifted by the news that Shivnarine Chanderpaul might make a return for the match, though team officials have again indicated that any decision to suit up the prolific left-hander will be made on match day.

Chanderpaul, who has not played in the ODI series because of a hand injury, batted for over an hour in the nets yesterday and struck the ball well with little or no discomfort.

In contrast, New Zealand are anxiously sweating on the fitness of key all-rounder Jacob Oram who is struggling with an inflamed Achilles tendon in his left leg.

He batted in the nets yesterday but did not bowl and is expected to undergo a fitness test before he can suit up for the crucial encounter.

If Oram does not play, opener Jesse Ryder and middle-order batsman Grant Elliott could be used to bowl 10 overs between them.

The Black Caps would not have been encouraged either by the form of the big-hitting Brendon McCullum who failed for state side Otago in the domestic one-day competition yesterday.

McCullum, with a strike rate of 90 in one-dayers, fell for just one in the second ODI on Saturday and the Black Caps will hope he and the rest of the top order can fire if they are to square the series.

The weather, a significant factor in both ODIs so far, is expected to be fair for the second and final day/night encounter.

Squads:
NEW ZEALAND – Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

West Indies – Chris Gayle (captain), Denesh Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Carlton Baugh Jr, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Shawn Findlay, Xavier Marshall, Nikita Miller, Brendan Nash, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Lionel Baker.