There is just the one T20 match taking place on Thursday and it features Australia and Sri Lanka in Dubai where Australia are the bookmakers favourites to take their second win.
Australia survived some nervous moments in their opening game against South Africa to claim the win by 5 wickets with 2 balls to spare. They had won the toss and sent South Africa into bat at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and they had the Proteas in early trouble at 23/3.
Australia’s bowlers never took their foot off the throat of the South Africans and restricted them to 118 for 9 in 20 overs with all of the bowlers getting amongst the wickets with some very impressive economy rates.
Australia then recovered from 38 for 3 and 81 for 5 to get home fairly comfortably in the end. Much like the bowling department there were contributions all round with the bat, Steve Smith top scoring with 35 at just more than a run a ball.
Sri Lanka won the toss in their opening game against Bangladesh and elected to field. Bangladesh though performed well with the bat rattling up 171 for 4 in their 20 overs with Karunaratne the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 1 for 12 in 3 overs.
Bangladesh were favourites with the bookmakers to defend that score and when Sri Lanka lost an early wicket they looked in big trouble, in the end though they got home with 5 wickets in hand and 7 balls left thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 80 by Asalanka at a strike rate of 163, well supported by 53 off 31 from Rajapaksa.
These sides haven't met in a T20 match since 2019 when Australia won a home series 3-0. Interestingly though the sides are evenly matched in the head-to-head stats with 8 wins apiece.
At the time of writing this preview Australia are the 7/1 fourth favourites to win the World Cup with Sri Lanka priced at 40/1.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Australia 4/10
Sri Lanka 2/1
Suggested Bet: Sri Lanka win at 2/1
I can understand that Australia are favourites for this game, but I think that Sri Lanka has been under estimated by the bookies and the Aussies perhaps been given a bit too much credit for what was a rather shaky win over South Africa. The nature of T20 cricket is that the betting tends to fluctuate and I think that taking 2/1 Sri Lanka up front could prove a good move.
Suggested Bet: Most Match 6’s Sri Lanka at 2/1
Sri Lanka managed nine 6’s in their opening game against Bangladesh so they clearly have players that can clear the ropes and once again I think that there is some value in siding with the underdogs in this market.
Suggested Bet: Asalanka Top Sri Lanka Bat 7/2
I was just so impressed with him in the game against Bangladesh and the sort of form he is in I am happy to have him batting against the bookmakers this week.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
