The ICC T20 World Cup enters the Super 12 stage on Saturday with Australia playing South Africa and England up against the West Indies. We take a look at both games from a betting angle.
AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
This match takes place in Abu Dhabi and is scheduled to get going at midday South African time.
Australia’s confidence took a knock on Wednesday when they were well beaten by India in a warm up fixture. They posted 152 for 5 only for India to chase it down with only 1 wicket lost and over 2 overs in hand.
Australia have never won the T20 World Cup and they are 7/1 to rectify that. Looking at some of the Exotic Markets on the Australians, Finch is a 9/4 favourite to be Top Bat and Starc is a 5/2 market leader in the Top Bowler Market.
South Africa would have taken confidence from their warm up win over Pakistan on Wednesday as they chased down a 187 to win with 4 wickets in hand. The chase was built on the back of a superb century by Rassie van der Dussen and was much needed as morale amongst fans in particular has been low coming into this Tournament. They also beat Afghanistan by 41 runs on Monday despite only posting a first innings total of 145 for 5.
The Proteas are considered underdogs for the Tournament at 12/1 and Quinton de Kock is the favourite to be Top Bat at 19/10 (I have a fancy for Markram at 7/2) and Rabada is a 9/4 favourite in the Top Bowler Market where I also fancy the second favourite, Shamsi at 12/5.
These sides met in a T20 series back in February 2020 in South Africa with Australia winning 2-1.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Australia 15/20
South Africa 11/10
Suggested Bet: Top Away Batsman, Markram at 7/2
As mentioned above I like Markram to be the Top South African Bat in the Tournament and I am hoping he fires from the opening match.
Suggested Bet: Batsman Total Match Sixes, Warner Over 0.5 at 11/10
For this bet to arrive we need Warner to clear the boundary at least once. He hasn’t been in the greatest of nick, but he is the type of player who comes good when it counts.
ENGLAND v WEST INDIES
This match takes place in Dubai at 16h00 South African time on Saturday.
England are well fancied to win the competition and at the time of writing are priced at 7/2, second favourites. They have an excellent record in this Tournament having made two finals, one of which they won back in 2010. They are the reigning ODI World Champions.
They were soundly beaten by India in Monday’s warm up game, but then saw off New Zealand on Wednesday after posting a 163 for 6, they then restricted their opponents for a 13 run win.
Looking at some of the Exotic Markets, Roy, Bairstow and Buttler are joint favourites at 3/1 to be Top England Batsman and Rashid is a 5/2 favourite to be Top England Bowler.
West Indies are 7/1 shots to win the Tournament and all indications are we will get some roller-coaster performances from the Windies who certainly have the manpower to win the Tournament. They were crowned World Champions in 2010 and 2012 and looking at their warm up games they opened with a 7 wicket loss to Pakistan where they could only muster 137 for 7 in their 20 overs and then on Wednesday they were very disappointing in going down to Afghanistan where they fell well short of the 190 they required for victory.
BETTING – Click here to bet
England 7/10
West Indies 12/10
Suggested Bet: England win at 7/10
I really like the look of this England side and although I wouldn’t read too much into those West Indian warm ups, I think England will have them under pressure from the start and will continue to turn the screws.
Most Match 6’s, England at 12/10
Both sides have plenty of players who can clear the boundary and England have plenty of them stacked up at the top of the order and I am happy to take on the favourites for this market, the West Indies priced at 19/20.
Just a reminder to punters that the tie is in play here and is quoted at 13/2.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
