Fast start crucial for both sides

The first match of any series is usually important when it comes to the final outcome and that goes double for one-day cricket, and triple for a clash between India and Pakistan. So with that in mind, expect the two sides to go hell-for-leather when the s

Simon Cambers

04-Nov-2007

Shahid Afridi is bound to catch fire at some stage in the series but will it be in the first match of the series on Monday? © Getty Images

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As detailed in the outright preview, India have had a terrible record against Pakistan at home in one-day internationals, which, on paper at least, doesn't make a great deal of sense.

The two sides are again pretty well matched but the home side should have a healthy advantage, purely because of superior knowledge and experience of the venues and also the benefits that being in your own country brings.

Monday's first match of five will be played at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati, where they have won four and lost three of the seven games to have been played there. There seems little to be said for batting first as opposed to fielding first, but an 8.30 start is almost certain to offer some assistance to the bowling side.

That said, it is a small ground so if the side batting first gets through the first hour or so without too much damage being done, then they should be sitting pretty.

Pakistan won their only warm-up game, in Delhi, so will fancy their chances of winning this one, at 6/5, particularly as their star batsmen, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, were rested for that match. India are 8/13 to kick off the series with a win.

Pressure on Sachin

Ganguly is next at 4/1, with Yuvraj Singh - who has been in excellent form - and Virender Sehwag both 9/2, Gautam Gamhir and Robin Uthappa both 5/1 and Mahendra Dhoni, who is proving an adept and attacking one-day captain, a decent price at 7/1. Irfan Pathan might be a good bet at 16/1 if he were to open, but down the order he may not get enough time.

The brilliant Mohammad Yousuf has come into his own in the past couple of years, so don't be put off by the fact that he averages just 41 in one-dayers (not that bad, mind you) and just 26 in India.

Yousuf is all class and merits favouritism at 3/1, just ahead of his partner in crime, Younis Khan, who is 10/3. Imran Nazir is 9/2, while captain Shoaib Malik, Yasir Hameed and Salman Butt are all 5/1.

Kamran Akmal is 7/1, while Shahid Afridi is 15/2. Afridi will hit a big score in one of the matches - it's a matter of picking the one. On a small pitch, he will fancy his chances of splaying several sixes, so keep an eye on him.

India are 8/13 to have the better opening partnership and that's a fair price given that Tendulkar and Ganguly have to be favoured over any pairing that Pakistan may put up.

Like the series, this promises to be a ding-dong battle, terribly hard to predict, but if you want a bet on this one, go with India's openers to outscore their opposite numbers.

Cambers' Call:
India to have better opening partnership than Pakistan in 1st one-day international

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's betting correspondent