West Indies vs Papua New Guinea Prediction: Pooran primed to lead hosts to opening win

The West Indies are one of just two teams to win the T20 World Cup twice and they have been the subject of a market move in recent days, with punters siding with the team to become the first to lift the trophy three times.

The West Indies are hosting this year’s tournament, alongside the United States, and get their campaign underway against Papua New Guinea, who are appearing in just their second T20 World Cup, having lost three out of three in the group stages in 2021. Read below for my West Indies vs Papua New Guinea prediction ahead of this 15:30 start at the Providence Stadium on Sunday.

Team News

Jason Holder is injured for the West Indies but has been replaced with left-armer Obed McCoy. Other than that, they are likely to field a similar team to the one that beat Australia last time out.

Ten of Papua New Guinea’s 15-man squad featured the last time they played in the T20 World Cup in 2021 so expect some familiar faces.

West Indies vs Papua New Guinea Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main West Indies vs Papua New Guinea page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The West Indies are 1/66 to triumph on Sunday, while Papua New Guinea are 25/1 to do so themselves.

Nicholas Pooran top West Indies run scorer @ 7/2

One of the reasons that the West Indies are fancied to take the T20 World Cup crown on home soil is that they have an impressive batting lineup.

Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford are all dangerous batters in their own right but together they form a group that could strike fear into any opposing bowling attack.

However, one player in particular comes into this tournament in red-hot form and that is Nicholas Pooran.

The 28-year-old was his country’s top scorer in their recent warm-up win over Australia and his last four T20 knocks are 75, 75, 61 and 48 not out, the last three of which came in the Indian Premier League for Lucknow SuperGiants.

That should have him cherry ripe for this tournament and he is fancied to top score for the West Indies. His position at number three gives him the perfect platform from which to score runs and if the visitors’ bowling attack struggles, he could make hay.

Side with Pooran to top score for the West Indies in their opener.

Alzarri Joseph top West Indies wicket taker @ 21/10

Alzarri Joseph was a real danger in the West Indies’ final warm-up game against Australia, taking 2-44, and his express pace could give this Papua New Guinea batting lineup a real headache.

The fast bowler has taken 35 T20I wickets at an average of 21.45, with his best figures of 5-40 coming against the powerful batting unit of South Africa last year, and he rates as a solid bet to be the hosts’ top wicket-taker in their opening game.

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