Cricket punters can look forward to two ICC T20 World Cup matches on Friday and we take a look at both from a betting angle.
WEST INDIES v BANGLADESH
This match takes place in Sharjah and both sides will be desperate for victories having lost their opening two games.
The West Indies were well beaten by England in their opener getting bowled out for 55 when batting first, but they put up a more respectable 143 for 8 when playing against South Africa in Dubai in their last start. Evin Lewis was top scorer with 56 at a strike rate of 160, but the total wasn’t enough and South Africa knocked it off with just under 2 overs to spare and 8 wickets in hand. Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with 4 overs for 23 runs although he failed to pick up a wicket.
Bangladesh batted well in their first game against Sri Lanka setting their opponents a 172 to win the game, but unfortunately a couple of dropped catches cost them the win and they lost by 5 wickets.
They then played England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and after winning the toss decided to bat first. It was an innings which was in trouble straight away and only Mushfiqur Rahim got amongst the runs scoring 29 at just less than a run a ball as Bangladesh posted 124 for 9. England got off to a flyer and in the end reached the total with almost 6 overs to spare and 8 wickets in hand. None of the Bangladesh bowlers had much impact on the innings.
BETTING – Click here to bet
West Indies 5/10
Bangladesh 33/20
Suggested Bet: Bangladesh win at 33/20
I can understand why the bookmakers have the West Indies as favourites, but of the two sides I have been more impressed with Bangladesh of late and I think that at current prices it is the Bangladeshi that are worth backing as I was particularly impressed with their batting performance against Sri Lanka.
Suggested Bet: Top West Indian Batsman, Hetmyer at 11/2
Hetmyer came in down the innings against South Africa and I am hoping he gets put back up the order where he looked dangerous in the opening game against England.
PAKISTAN v AFGHANISTAN
Both these sides have a 100% record which they will be looking to maintain when the sides meet in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan beat Tournament favourites, India by 10 wickets in their opening game and they followed that up with another convincing win, this time over New Zealand, when they won by 5 wickets with just over an over to spare. New Zealand batted first, scoring 134 for 8 in their 20 overs and Harris Ralf was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 22 in his 4 overs. Pakistan had some wobbly moments in the chase, but ultimately got up comfortably with contributions by a number of batsmen including our Top Bat pick in that match, Rizwan who scored 33 off 34 balls coming in at the top of the order.
Afghanistan have only played the one game and that was a convincing victory over Scotland where they rattled up the top score of the Tournament at the time of writing, a 190 for 4 with contributions from all of their top order, but particularly good knocks from Zadran with 59 off 34 balls and Zazai with 44 off 30 balls. They then had the Scots in all sorts of trouble after the first wicket fell and ended up bowling them out for 60 with Mujeeb ur Rahman taking 5 for 20 in his 4 overs and Rashid Khan 4 for 9 in 2.2 overs.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Pakistan 3/10
Afghanistan 26/10
Suggested Bet: Top Home Batsman, Rizwan at 28/10
Rizwan has arrived in both matches to date and while Babar Azam is certainly a worthy favourite at 18/10 I am happy to keep the faith with Rizwan in his current vein of form.
Suggested Bet: Top Pakistan Bowler, Afridi, at 22/10
Afridi was excellent against New Zealand and England and perhaps hasn’t got as many wickets as he deserved, that could change against an Afghanistan team that is likely to go hard at him from the start of his spell.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
