Category: Cricket

Cricket World Cup: Day 14 Preview

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The Three Big Questions

What’s the go on four day test and 40 over one-dayers? 

Details have emerged of an ECB discussion paper that presents ideas on how to forward the game of cricket    that include reducing ODI games to 40 overs, and reducing test matches to 4 days.  The paper aimed predominantly towards the English County Cricket model (thus included a franchise focused domestic Twenty20 league) determined that the 30 year tradition of five day tests could be done away with to, presumably, reduce the costs of hosting each game and prevent fifth day attendance fatigue; create more room in the cricketing calendar for the Twenty20 league; make both formats more commercially attractive.  The changes make sense to us, but it will be interesting to see if they’re supported by other nations.  Any changes are likely to be a long way off though.

What’s happening between Shane Warne and Darren Lehman?

The Australian press have been jumping at any chance of a story this week.  David Warner’s “brain explosion” comments, and Josh Hazelwood’s genius comment that “we need to get McCullum out” have both been given too many pixels.  But, we understand, they need to be paid and there’s been no on field action for Australia for two weeks.  That’s why the so-called rift’s been blown out of proportion.  There are unlikely to be any deep issues running through the squad, and it won’t impact their play.  Don’t read anything into the comments.  All is well.

Will the real South Africa show up today?

Put simply, they have to.  South Africa are in real danger of butchering their World Cup chances.  They do not want to have to meet New Zealand or Australia any earlier than the semi-finals, but because of their poor effort against India they can’t afford to drop any more games.  They need leadership.  They need runs from Amla and de Villers.  They need Steyn.  In those three players they have the experience to get out of the mini-slump they are in, the ability to inspire the rest of their team and beat the West Indies comfortably.

Today’s Matchup

South Africa v West Indies, Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney – fine weather predicted), starts 2:30pm local time

South Africa – $1.30

West Indies – $3.50

Enigmatic West Indies vs Failing Favourites South Africa – This one could be tough to predict.  South Africa desperately need to rediscover some form and avoid another loss.  The West Indies on the other hand are in form, they should be confident and depending on what Gayle turns up could be Cricket World Cup contenders.

An indication on how this one might go could come from when the two teams met very recently in South Africa prior to the World Cup.  South Africa won the ODI series comfortably – many people forget that because AB de Villers’ 31 ball hundred stole most of the headlines – and that’s probably the same way this match will pan out.

Darren Bravo, Suliaman Benn and Vernon Philander are all expected to miss the match through injuries.

Today’s Bet

AB de Villiers to Score 50 – $2.35.

This is great money for de Villers who scores 50’s for fun.  Take advantage off his early Cricket World Cup woes and lump on this one.  Won’t need too much crease time to deliver 50.

Odds courtesy of Tom Waterhouse.

Cricket World Cup: Day 13 Recap

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No upsets on Day 13 of the Cricket World Cup, but for the second day in a row and associate nation matchup made for compelling cricket.  The Afghanistan / Scotland nail biter was in stark contrast to the one-sided matchup across the Tasman between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Check out our take on the two games:

Day 13 Results

1. Afghanistan v Scotland

Afghanistan justified their favourites tag and created World Cup history when they beat Scotland by one wicket.  Their first ever World Cup win was a nervous affair that had more twists and turns than an NRL cocaine scandal.  A fine 96 from Samiullah Shenwari saw them bounce back from a precarious 97/7 to deliver an emotional win that justified their involvement in world cricket.

Earlier, Scotland had again struggled with the bat on a zesty Dunedin surface.  Happy to throw the bat at any width, but reluctant to tighten their games in accordance with the movement on offer, the Scots just got to 200 for the first time in a World Cup.  The innings featured plenty of 20’s and 30’s on the scorecard but no standouts.  In fairness, 210 could have been much worse when they were 132/6, but Alasdair Evans and Majid Haq hung around to see out the overs.  The Afghanistan quicks, who are in actuality a formidable opening pair shared seven wickets between them in a Boult / Southee like performance.

In response Afghanistan almost made an alright hash of their run chase.  Starting aggressively, perhaps in the pursuit of a net run rate improvement, they raced to 40 in just 7 overs, mainly thanks to Javed Ahmadi, before their first lost wicket derailed their momentum.  Royally so too.  They lost 7/55 to leave their pursuit of a first win nigh on impossible.  Shenwari finally found some support in Hassan and Zadran to get them home.  His three consecutive sixes of Haq broke the back of the chase and although he couldn’t see them all the way home, was the obvious man of the match.

Afghanistan 211 for 9 (Shenwari 96, Ahmadi 51, Berrington 4-40) beat Scotland 210 (Shapoor 4-38, Dawlat 3-29) by one wicket

2. Sri Lanka v Bangladesh

Big second wicket partnerships are all the rage in 2015 Cricket World Cup and Sri Lanka didn’t want to be left behind.  Hence Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara combined for a baby mammoth 210 run stand to end Bangladesh’s hopes of causing an upset.  We say baby mammoth, because Gayle and Samuels have redefined the levels of mammoth.

Dilshan and Sangakkara used all of their experience to manoeuvre their side to a competitive total and register personal milestones of their own.  Sangakkara celebrated his 400th ODI with another ODI century, and Dilshan recorded his 21st.  In posting the challenging target, they took advantage of sloppy fielding and catching from the Tigers, something their captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, said was the losing of the game.

Bangladesh were 92 short of the target when they were bowled out in the 47th over.  At 100/5 the match was essentially over, however Shakib, Mushfiqur and Sabbir were able to get some late batting practice in.

Sri Lanka couldn’t afford a loss and didn’t.  It may have been nice to get Matthews, Karunaratne and Chandimal some batting practice to ease the reliance on their big three.  But a win is a win.

Sri Lanka 332 for 1 (Dilshan 161*, Sangakkara 105*) beat Bangladesh 240 (Sabbir 53, Shakib 46, Malinga 3-35) by 92 runs

Cricket World Cup: Day 13 Preview

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The Three Big Questions

Next big upset at the Cup?

See our suggested multi today featuring upsets in both today’s games.  They’re probably more heart than head, so we’re looking at the West Indies as the side most capable of upsetting more favoured opponents.  Their next two matches are against South Africa and India and they could spring a surprise in one or both of those.  In particular, the match against India at the WACA is a great opportunity for their tall timbers to make things uncomfortable for their batsman.

Who is the most frugal bowler in the World Cup so far?

There are a few one games conceding only two runs per over, but of the bowlers who have bowed more than 10 overs, New Zealand’s Danile Vettori leads the way, giving away only 3.03 runs per over.  He’s followed by Mirwais Ashraf (3.66), Paul Stirling (3.75) and Mohammed Shami (3.82) in a list that gives no indication as to which type of bowler is having the greatest run-rate impact in the tournament whatsoever.

Which batsman is doing the most damage per balls faced?

Our weird way of asking who has the highest strike rate in the tournament is answered by the name, Andre Russell.  The West Indian Mr T lookalike is striking at an impressive 265.38 from his 26 balls thus far; proving a real point of difference at the end of an innings for a West Indian tam that have scored in excess of 300 in all of their efforts to date.  Brad Haddin (221.42), last night’s hero Kevin O’Brien (192.3) and Brendon McCullum (182.55) finish off the list.

Today’s Matchup

1. Scotland v Afghanistan, University Oval (Dunedin – partly cloudy), starts 11:00am local time

Scotland – $2.35

Afghanistan – $1.59

Afghanistan start as favourites for match 17 of the Cricket World Cup, against the struggling Scotland lads. They’re favourites because they lead the head to head 5-3, although Scotland got the better of them at the time of last trying, a big win by 150 runs in Abu Dhabi.  Scotland’s World Cup woes against England and NZ have also seen them lose popularity amongst punters and bookies.  Scotland are desperate to overturn their disappointing returns with the willow, and may have been eyeing a sub-continent side as a reducing their concerns against pace bowling.  But, Afghanistan quickies are some of the best going around so it won’t be easy to escape the barrage.

2. Sri Lanka v Bangladesh

Sri Lanka – $1.22

Bangladesh – $4.35

The World Cup tale of the two Asian sides in the day’s second match has been vastly different.  Bangladesh were impressive in their only appearance in the tournament, whereas their rivals have been very poor.  A loss to New Zealand was followed up with a nail-fittingly close win over Afghanistan; a win that failed to instill confidence in anyone watching.  Mahela Jayawardene was the obvious plus, but he always is and always has been.  They have always (perhaps too much so) relied on Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Dilshan, and that reliance is proving to be to their detriment.  Sri Lanka need contributions from more of the squad if they are to get up and beat a Bangladesh side desperate to get into the quarter-finals and buoyed after the bonus point they gained from the Brisbane washout.

Today’s Bet

The Day 13 Double Upset Multi

Bangladesh and Scotland To Win – $9.57

Odds from Luxbet.

Cricket World Cup: Day 12 Recap

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Ireland and the UAE unexpectedly combined for the most exciting match of the Cricket World Cup so far; an absorbing contest that was ultimately decided in Ireland’s favour by just two wickets, and with four balls to spare.

Check out our quick review of the game below:

Day 12 Results

Ireland v UAE

One of the defining characteristics of the best test playing cricket nations is that they always find a way to win despite not playing their best cricket.  It happens time and time again when associate nations (a la Afghanistan against Sri Lanka) give the better teams an almighty scare before eventually losing composure and confidence or letting nerves get the better of them.  It has happened to Ireland in the past too, but last night they were able to get one over UAE in similar circumstances; displaying the winning mentality of a top 8 side that allowed them to scrape home against an excellent UAE effort.

UAE capitalised on a solid start to post 278 from their 50 overs and set Ireland a tricky chase.  The innings featured their first World Cup hundred to batsman Shaiman Anwar, and their first hundred run partnership in World Cup cricket too, between Anwar and Amjad Javed.  They were helped by some ordinary death bowling (theme of the tournament), and some strange tactics from Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien.

Ireland managed the tricky chase relatively comfortably despite a clump of wickets at the beginning and the end of the innings.  The key to Ireland overhauling the 278 was the partnership between Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien.  The pair put together 72 in no time, to guide Ireland from a position of uncertainty at 171/5 to a position of dominance that was never relinquished.  The tense scenes were tailor-made for the hard hitting O’Brien, but not so for the UAE fielders who went down like cramping flies (with cramp) and put down catches with the same regularity.

Ultimately, Ireland did the things the great teams do.  Win, when perhaps they shouldn’t.

Ireland 279 for 8 (Wilson 80, K O’Brien 50, Javed 3-60) beat UAE 278 for 9 (Anwar 106) by 2 wickets

 

Cricket World Cup: Day 12 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s unlikely we’ll see another Cricket World Cup double century today, but there still could be plenty of action.  Read our preview of today’s match and the three big questions on everyone’s lips at the Cricket World Cup.

The Three Big Questions 

Does Eden Park’s weird dimensions suit Australia or New Zealand more for Saturday’s showdown? 

Many are predicting Saturday’s trans-tasman match at Eden Park to be a preview of the World Cup final in late March.  Both teams are confident, both have made a good start to the tournament and both are familiar with the conditions in both Australia and New Zealand.  Familiarity with Eden Park’s strange dimensions – the straight boundary is just 55m – will be crucial in deciding who runs out on top of Saturday’s pool game.  Australia feel that Tim Southee and Trent Boult’s swing threat is minimised by the small boundaries.  Mishits can still go for six, and edges will race to the straight boundaries and force fine leg and third man to be especially straight, opening up space in other ares of the outfield.  The ground suits left handers too, but with only Corey Anderson and David Warner goofy hitting, no team benefits there.  New Zealand obviously no the conditions well, yet still failed to defend 314 when they last played here (timing with India in a match featuring 23 6’s).  Accordingly, there is no clear advantage, but expect huge totals all round.

Where should bowlers be bowling?

Bowlers have had a rough time of it of late.  The pitches too flat, the balls to hard and the boundaries too small.  300 plus totals are good for fans vying for the Tui catch a million promotion at New Zealand grounds, but a bad look for bowlers.  So what can they do about it?  Short pitched stuff hasn’t worked for England, taking the pace off hasn’t worked for Zimbabwe, liquorice all sorts didn’t work for Andre Russell and the West Indies against Ireland.  That leaves one glaringly obvious strategy that appears to be a lost art these days.  Fire it in fats and straight into the blockhole and you won’t go too far.  Even though Malinga went fro plenty against New Zealand his death spell was excellent.  It’s the only viable strategy in the modern ODI game.  Sure you might get ramped a couple of times, but that shot will come off less than a bludgeon down the ground.

What’s our take on the commentary team?

Refreshing.  There’s a different insight on display with more neutral commentators voicing each game, and it’s something we could get used to. Having grown up listening to the infamous Channel 9 commentary team and watching them get more and more one-eyed (thanks to Ian Healey, James Bradshaw, Michael Slater), the change to Alan Wilkins, Pommie Mbangwa et al has only increased our enjoyment of the tournament.  If only the logistics could work full time on all international tours.  FTP for commentators?

Today’s Matchup

Ireland v UAE, The Gabba (Brisbane – cyclone gone should be fine), starts 1:30pm local time

Ireland – $1.20

UAE – $4.40

The green machine are expected to get the better of the UAE as World Cup cricket returns to the cyclone sodden state of Queensland.  The Irish are coming off a strong opening win against the West Indies, and have the players to get them out of any potentially sticky situations against the only amateur team in the tournament.  Joyce, Stirling and O’Brien are all in some handy form and could cash in against the associate side who, despite enjoying a solid opening effort against Zimbabwe, will probably struggle on the pace and bounce of the Gabba.

Today’s Bet

Ireland’s favourites tag means there are not great odds on any of the common betting options. If anything we like Ed Joyce / Khurram Khan to both to score for their teams at $12.00.

Odds from Sportsbet Australia.

Cricket World Cup: Day 11 Recap

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Chris Gayle survived a close LBW call first ball and then went on a six hitting rampage; breaking numerous records on the way to a massive 215 that set his side up for a big win against Zimbabwe in Canberra in Day 11 of the Cricket World Cup.

Read more about Gayle (and the game) below:

Day 11 Results

West Indies v Zimbabwe

A wicket second ball of the innings for the Zimbabweans did not give any indication to the brutality that was to follow.  From the joy of Dwayne Smith’s opening wicket (which was literally celebrated with dancing), the game quickly went pear shaped for the African side as Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels combined in world record partnership of 372.  Former South African quick turned commentator Shaun Pollock put it best when he pointed out that the game got to the stage where “the fielders were becoming the spectators, and the spectators were becoming the fielders”.

Gayle hit 16 sixes on his way to becoming the first Cricket World Cup double centurion, and in the process became the first batsman to score a T20 100, an ODI 200, and a Test 300.  His record breaking blitzkrieg was even more remarkable given the pressure place on him by the public and the president of the WICB who had earlier given Gayle an underhanded slap via Twitter.

This was Gayle’s first ODI hundred since 2013, and despite being predicted by us,  still shocked plenty in the manner it was achieved.  Gayle set the record for number of 6’s in an ODI innings and broke the record for fastest ODI double hundred.  Mention should go to Marlon Samuels too.  He grafted (in comparison to Gayle) an unbeaten 133 to share in the fireworks from the best seat in the house.  Samuels was slower in comparison; a point that remained largely irrelevant on account of the unlikeliness of Zimbabwe chasing 373.

Zimbabwe did play well however.  Sean Willians and Criag Ervine compiled accomplished half centuries, but the chase lacked a big hundred to be able to compete.  They finished well short on 289, however in each of their games thus far they have managed to cross 270 which indicates their ability with the willow.  Jerome Taylor picked up 3 wickets to add to his 6 previous tournament records to be the best West Indies bowler.

West Indies back on course then.  Chris Gayle back in form.  Every team in the competition now hoping to avoid them in the quarter-finals.

West Indies 372 for 2 (Gayle 215, Samuels 133*) beat Zimbabwe 289 (Williams 76, Ervine 52, Taylor 3-38) by 73 runs