ICC Cricket World Cup: South Africa vs West Indies - 5 things to look forward to

With things heating up as far as the points table is concerned, Pool B looks wide open. A win for South Africa would leave the top 4 teams tied with the same amount of points while a West Indies victory will catapult them ahead of the others to pole position.Had this been the first match of the World Cup, South Africa would have been clear favourites, with AB de Villiers in ominous form, and West Indies going through a phase of internal turmoil. However, West Indies’ performance in the last game, powered by Chris Gayle’s brutal onslaught, has changed the face of this encounter.On the eve of this crucial match, here are 5 things to look forward to:

#1 The return of Chris Gayle

Christopher Henry Gayle smashed the first double hundred in World Cup history in West Indies’ last game against Zimbabwe, helping the men from the Caribbean register a 73-run victory. The Windies enter the match against South Africa on the back of this huge victory, which would give them a lot of confidence. A lot will be riding on Gayle, and Jason Holder’s West Indies will be hoping that the Jamaican continues in the same vein.

He remains a doubtful starter due to his troublesome back. If Gayle carries on from where he left off in Canberra, though, there is not much that even South Africa would be able to do to stop him. Another colossal innings from the big man at the top will lay down a strong foundation for a huge total, and West Indies would like to capitalize on that.