The wait for the Cricket World Cup 2023 is almost over with the opening game taking place on Thursday, the 5th of October, where we will witness England facing New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in India.
In this article, "The Don" will analyse this game as well as the South Africa vs. Sri Lanka match from a betting perspective.
England vs New Zealand
In preparation for the upcoming World Cup, England participated in two ODI series, one against New Zealand and the other against Ireland, both held on home turf. During their series against New Zealand, despite losing the first game, they secured victory in the series with a 3-1 scoreline, registering three relatively comfortable wins in the remaining games.
Their series against Ireland ended with a 1-0 victory, as the 2nd and final game had to be abandoned due to heavy rainfall.
New Zealand underwent similar preparations, engaging in two series in the lead-up to the World Cup. They lost the first of these series to England and would have been disappointed to lose 3 on the trot.
Subsequently, they faced Bangladesh in a three-game series in Bangladesh, managing to secure a 2-0 series win. Their victories came through an 86-run win and a 7-wicket win in the last two games, as the first game had to be abandoned due to rain.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The most recent encounter between these two teams was in the recent four-game series, where England demonstrated their capabilities by securing a comfortable victory. Prior to this, their last meeting in an ODI context took place during the previous World Cup, where England emerged victorious in both matches.
ENGLAND VS NEW ZEALAND BETTING – Click here to bet
England 1.43
New Zealand 2.70
The Dons Play: Best Batsmen for England to be David Malan at 4.00
In the recent series against New Zealand, Malan showcased excellent form, scoring two fifties and one century in the four games played. This type of performance could potentially earn him the top batsman spot for the English side. Click here to bet
SOUTH AFRICA VS SRI LANKA
In preparation for the World Cup, South Africa played only one series, which was at home against Australia. They began the five-game series on a challenging note, losing the first game by 3 wickets and the second by 123 runs. Despite this slow start, they gradually gained momentum, securing three consecutive wins in the last three games, each by more than 100 runs. Consequently, they won the series 3-2.
Sri Lanka's preparation for the World Cup took the form of the Asia Cup, where they competed in six games against different nations. They advanced to the final of the tournament, with their only loss coming against India. However, in the final, facing India once more, they suffered their second loss in the six games they played.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The last time these two teams faced off in an ODI series was in Sri Lanka, comprising three games. Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the series with a 2-1 scoreline, winning both the first and last games.
SOUTH AFRICA VS SRI LANKA BETTING – Click here to bet
South Africa 1.44
Sri Lanka 2.65
The Dons Play: Top South African Bowler to be Tabraiz Shamsi at 3.75
Building on his decent form in the recent series, Shamsi will aim to capitalize on the spin-friendly pitches in India during the opening game of the World Cup. This increases the likelihood of him leading the South African bowling attack.Click here to bet
The Dons Play: South Africa to win at 1.44
Riding the momentum gained against Australia, the Proteas will strive to kick off their World Cup campaign on a positive note and secure an opening victory. The price is a bit short for a straight bet but I will look to include in multiples. Click here to bet
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
