Sunday's result in the Twenty20 International between the West Indies and Zimbabwe have raised the stakes in the ODI series, which opens on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Zimbabwe, choosing to bat, dragged themselves back from nought for three to complete a stunning, 26-run victory over the Windies in Trinidad.

The Zimbabweans used a slew of spin bowlers to exploit the hard, slow Queen's Park Oval pitch, which offered generous turn to upset the hosts, as they looked to chase a modest target of 106 from their allocation of 20 overs.

It was a wake-up call for the home team, and gave their new coach Ottis Gibson an ideas as to the size of the challenge that he faces to restore West Indies' battered image.

Zimbabwe have made it clear that they plan to put a lot of faith in their spin bowlers for the five ODIs, since the conditions are likely to be similar.

This means the home team will have to brace themselves for a battle with the likes of Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya and his off-spinners, along with left-arm spinner Ray Price, and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, as well as the occasional off-spin of Greg Lamb, Stuart Matsikenyeri and even Brendan Taylor.

But the visitors should be aware that the West Indies too, have spin bowling options led by Sulieman Benn, whose four wickets flattened their top-order batting, fellow left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, as well as the part-time off-spin of West Indies captain Chris Gayle and Narsingh Deonarine.

The series will ultimately be decided upon the backs of which side manages its batting resources better - and neither side proved they were head and shoulders above the other in Sunday's clash, despite the West Indies' meltdown.

The 50 overs-a-side format offers batsmen on both sides a chance to settle down, and build an innings, rather than the crash, bang, wallop of the T20.

Zimbabwe have a number of batsmen that have scaled the heights previously, including Charles Coventry, whose 194 was overhauled by Sachin Tendulkar last week as the highest individual innings in ODIs.

Others like Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Matsikenyeri, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, and Taylor have all had their moments in the sun in the past, and will have to step-up.

Gayle's return, following compassionate leave to visit his ill mother in Jamaica, should fortify the West Indies' batting, so too, the addition of Deonarine, whose batting on the recent travels to Australia promised much.

Zimbabwe have never beaten the West Indies in a bilateral ODI series, and the past results are heavily skewered in favour of the home team, which have won 27 of the 36 matches they have contested.

This includes an 82-run triumph at Bourda Oval, the previous international venue in Guyana, four years ago.

But there is cause for optimism from Zimbabwe, since the West Indies have lost two of the three ODIs they have contested at the new venue.