India look almost unstoppable

New Zealand were probably grateful that the second match in the one-day international series was washed out for it ruined India's chances of sweeping the series 5-0. Nothing has changed, though, and the bookies give the home side little chance of winning the third match on Saturday.

Everything I wrote for the second match stll stands, so forgive me if this preview is almost word for word what I wrote in advance of the second match,

India have legitimate claims to be called the best side in the world right now and though complacency is always a problem, they look absolutely confident and they will take some stopping.

Bet365 make them 1/2 to win the match- again scheduled to be played in Christchurch - and the state of the pitch - which appears likely to be slow - will not affect their chances adversely. New Zealand's problem is that their best bowler is Daniel Vettori, and if the pitch helps him then that will only help the Indians too. New Zealand are 6/4 to level the series.

Virender Sehwag, who said that India can make 300 almost at will in this series if they are on song, is the 3/1 favourite to be his side's top runscorer on Friday, ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, who is 4/1 and Yuvraj Singh, a 9/2 chance. Gautam Gambhir is also 9/2 and then captain MS Dhoni is 11/2 - it's a mightily strong line-up.

For New Zealand, Brendan McCullum and Martin Guptill are 7/2 joint favourites to top-score for their side, while Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor are both 4/1, and then there is a massive gap in the odds before we get to Grant Elliott at 13/2 and Jacob Oram at 7/1.

New Zealand are a decent one-day side and always fight above their weight, but India are a side possessed right now and they could easily win this series 5-0. At 1/2, given the way things are going, that seems a generous price to me.