CRICKET BETTING: Live On Sky Sports 1: Tue 18.00 & 22.00 Sri Lanka v India followed by West Indies v Australia in the final match of the Super 8’s. Compare odds and bet at the best prices.
Sri Lanka V India:
Sri Lanka and India come head to head for a remarkable 22nd time since the beginning of 2009; they have faced each other in no less than 3 test matches, 15 ODI’s and 3 T20’s. India have a slight edge in these recent games, but certainly no dominance. India are installed as 17/20 fav with 888sport, Sri Lanka weigh in at 11/10 (Bet365).
Both teams are smarting from the bounce at the Kensington Oval, India have lost both Super 8 games and Sri Lanka were comprehensively thumped by pacey Australia. St Lucia will offer something of a spin refuge for India’s Harbhajan and Sri Lanka’s Mendis but perhaps both teams might see an opportunity to apply some bounce theory of their own; apply some pressure to the bruises of Bridgetown. If so, India’s Nehra could continue to add to his impressive tally of 9 wickets. It will be close between Nehra and Harbhajan but Harbhajan can come in as top wicket taker for India at 3/1 with 888sport. For Sri Lanka, it is hard to see a dominant bowler here, so perhaps it is a market best left.
As for batting, Gambhir is somewhat of a seasoned master against spin but is yet to provide at this tournament. He can set in for a lengthy innings and at 7/2 with Bet365, is a decent shout for top bat. Yusuf Pathan could also be highly destructive, 16/1 with Ladbrokes (small saver). The boundaries are slightly bigger here and the potential power of India’s batting order may hold the key for victory.
Sri Lanka will inevitably turn to Jayawardene (and why not) to get another good knock but waiting in the flanks will be Jayasuriya, who loves to bat against India. Jayasuriya is 6/1 with totesport to top knock for Sri Lanka and India is traditionally his favourite opponent, his average against India is higher than his overall average.
This game could throw anything up, considering both teams must push to get to the semi finals. India must win by 20 runs and hope Australia beat the West Indies to progress, Sri Lanka just need a win (with an Aussie victory). The onus is on India to dig deep and that has hardly been evident in this tournament. It’s there for Sri Lanka to play patiently and let India self-destruct in a frantic chase for runs.
West Indies v Australia:
Australia and the West Indies are slightly more suited to the harder track of Bridgetown, Australia devastating at times. Australia are unbeaten and will look to extend that run to 5 games, they are 4/9 with Betfred to do so. The West Indies aren’t having a bad tournament themselves, 3 wins from 4, but if they were to win against Australia, they could still be on their way out if Sri Lanka beat India by 20 runs+ due to run-rate permutations. The West Indies are 2/1 with Totesport to prevail.
Australia will be hoping Cameron White is in the sort of mood that made him blast 85 from 49 balls against Sri Lanka and he is 8/1 with Stan James to repeat the top scoring feat. The pace trio of Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson have been dominant for the Aussie, taking 26 of the 38 wickets. However, at St Lucia, Steven Smith has his chance to shine for the spin contingent and to add to his haul of 6; Blue Square chalk up 11/2 against him to take most wickets.
The West Indies will cast hopeful eyes towards Chris Gayle, who finally found his brutal best against India last time out. When the man gets on a roll, he is difficult to stop. Only Gayle and Chanderpaul have hit over 60 runs, though Sammy does have a 30 to his name. Gayle is too hard to ignore to top score at 5/2 with Boylesports when perhaps only a 30 or so will be the top score for the West Indies. Like Australia, the West Indies are a pace team with the ball, most of their wickets coming thanks to fast bowling. Gayle again can be the main man, 10/1 with Ladbrokes to top wicket take with his offbreaks.
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