India look to wrap up series win
It doesn't take a genius to realise that India, with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, are now big odds-on favourites to complete a series victory against Pakistan. They have two chances to win it, but would like to get the job done early by winning in
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It doesn't take a genius to realise that India, with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, are now big odds-on favourites to complete a series victory against Pakistan. They have two chances to win it, but would like to get the job done early by winning in Gwalior on Thursday.
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Discipline was the name of the game for India as they won the third match in the series at the weekend and it will take a massive effort for Pakistan to overturn the 2-1 deficit and win the series - Bet365 make them 10/3 to do so, while India are 1/5.
Pakistan are supremely talented, as any side that possesses Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi would be, and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if they came back to at least force a decider.
However, India's confidence is rising all the time and they should be happy with the venue for the fourth match. Not only does it have a great name - the Captain Roop Singh Stadium takes some beating - but it also holds good memories for India as they have won six of their eight one-dayers there.
After losing to West Indies in the first match there, they lost just once more - a big upset to Kenya, and though it's a few years since they played there, they will be confident of staying on top of Pakistan.
Sachin Tendulkar, whose 99 in the second match was a superb innings, is favourite at 3/1 to be India's top runscorer, while Sourav Ganguly, the ever-impressive Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir are all 4/1.
Captain MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag are both 11/2 chances, Robin Uthappa is 8/1 and below them the only one who holds any appeal is Irfan Pathan at 18/1, and that only if he gets promoted up the order, which is unlikely.
Yousuf shades favouritism for Pakistan at 10/3, with Younis Khan 7/2 and Salman Butt, fresh from his century in the last match, on offer at 4/1. Imran Nazir is 9/2 and his captain Shoaib Malik is 5/1, with Yasir Hameed 11/2 and Afridi 13/2.
Tendulkar may well do well here as he hit a hundred on his last visit, but I have a feeling that this could be Ganguly's time to excel, not least because on his only previous outing there, he smashed an unbeaten 153 against New Zealand.
Cambers' Call:
Sourav Ganguly to be India's top scorer in 4th ODI - 4/1 bet365
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's betting correspondent
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