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Last chance saloon for India

India have one last chance to get to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday when they play West Indies in Johannesburg. It's a day-night match so anything can happen but India will be chasing a big win that will give them a chance of goi

Simon Cambers
30-Sep-2009

Sachin Tendulkar will be looking for a big score against a weakened West Indies attack © Getty Images
 
India have one last chance to get to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday when they play West Indies in Johannesburg. It's a day-night match so anything can happen but India will be chasing a big win that will at least give them a chance of going through, though if Australia beat Pakistan earlier in the day, it won't matter.
It's a tough situation for India but there is nothing they can do about what happens between Australia and Pakistan, so they just have to get on with the business at hand.
West Indies may be fielding a second-string side thanks to yet another pay dispute but they have actually played pretty well and will not be pushovers against the Indians, who will feel very disappointed should they fail to make the last four.
Bet365 make them 1/12 to win the match while West Indies are 13/2 and though anything can happen, especially if they bat second in a day-nighter, it really should be straightforward for MS Dhoni's side.
Sachin Tendulkar will want to stamp his authority all over the West Indies attack and the maestro is 11/4 to top-score for his side, ahead of Gautam Gambhir at 3/1. Rahul Dravid is 7/2, Dhoni 5/1 and Suresh Raina 6/1. Dinesh Karthik is a 7/1 chance, the same as Vinod Kohli while Irfan Pathanis a 10/1 shot.
For West Indies, Devon Smith, one of the few established names in their side, is the 10/3 favourite to come out on top, while Fletcher, Richards and Dowlin are all a 4/1 chance. Powell is 5/1, Reifer 7/1 and Darren Sammy 15/2.
Barring disaster, India should win this easily, but the margin of victory could depend on what happens in the earlier match as motivation will be difficult if they can no longer qualify.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's betting correspondent