Cricket World Cup: India v West Indies betting preview, tip & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 10.30am Thursday

Old Trafford, Manchester

The West Indies left Old Trafford on Saturday with a sour taste in their mouths as their World Cup hopes unravelled in spectacular fashion and they could struggle to gain any consolation when they return to the Manchester venue to face India.

Carlos Brathwaite's superb knock of 101 against New Zealand pulled the Windies from the brink of defeat to requiring only eight runs from the final two overs.

But a Trent Boult catch on the boundary at the end of the 49th over consigned the Caribbean side to a fourth defeat in six matches and all but ended their hopes of making the top four.

India had a scare of their own earlier the same day, as minnows Afghanistan went odds-on in-play to topple Virat Kohli's men at the Hampshire Bowl, but the Men in Blue held their nerve with the ball to successfully defend a mediocre score of 224.

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A vintage display from India's bowling attack compensated for their uncharacteristic collapse at the crease against the Afghans.

Mohammed Shami, in for the injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar, impressed with figures of 4-40 and the first hat-trick of the tournament to seal the win.

But Shami's showing should be taken with a pinch of salt. The bulk of his wickets came against weak tailenders who were tussling with a rising required run-rate.

Much has been made of Jasprit Bumrah's ability to bowl at the death and he finally got the chance to show the neutrals what the hype is about.

The paceman bowled tightly in the closing stages with figures of 2-39 from his ten overs, claiming the valuable scalps of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi.

His modest tally of seven wickets in the tournament is not a fair reflection on how well he has been bowling and he can step it up a gear against a Windies batting unit who have struggled against seamers.

Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Ashley Nurse and Evin Lewis were all removed by Boult against New Zealand, having scored only three runs between them.

They appear to have only one way to play but their ultra-aggressive approach should at least see them score more sixes than India in Manchester.

They won the six count in matches with New Zealand (13-4), Bangladesh (11-6) and England (6-0) and should fire more maximums against Kohli's men, who cleared the ropes only once last time out.

Recommendations
J Bumrah top India wicket-taker
2pts 5-2 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power
West Indies to score most sixes
3pts 4-5 Sky Bet

Team news
West Indies
All-rounder Andre Russell has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.

India
Mohammed Shami should retain his place in the side with India unlikely to risk Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been out with a hamstring concern.

Venue
India won their high-octane clash with Pakistan at Old Trafford, winning via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after posting 336 from their 50 overs, and England set a new record ODI total at the venue with their 397 against Afghanistan.

Weather
Dry and sunny with highs of 25C.

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