Tag: ODI Cricket

Series at Stake for Pesky Pakistanis

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Steven Smith led his side impressively in game three of the ODI series between Australia and Pakistan in Perth. The Australian captain was commanding in the field, when calling the shots and keeping Pakistan to a below-par 267, and was even better with bat in hand as he finessed his way to a not out hundred.

The captaincy and the batting illustrates a maturity that holds Australia in good stead ahead of their trip to India and the Champions Trophy later this year. But first is a series against Pakistan to finish off. The home side will be hoping to close Pakistan out in game 4 in Sydney.

The Series So Far

A surprisingly competitive series has Australia with a narrow 2-1 lead after wins sandwiched between a surprise loss in Melbourne. In game one, Australia was under immense pressure at 78/5 before recovering and having their bowlers lead them to an easy win. That result was reversed at the MCG where the Australian batsman struggled again and Pakistan chased down 217 comfortably. The most recent match of the series again saw Australia recover from batting wobbles to chase down 268. Thanks mostly to Steve Smith’s beautifully timed run chase. Smith scored a well made hundred while getting support from debutant Peter Handscomb.

The Teams

Australia (probable)

1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Travis Head, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Peter Handscomb, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 James Faulkener, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Mitchell Starc

Starc could return to the side instead of Billy Stanlake after being rested at the WACA. The returning Starc will form a formidable trio of strike bowlers with fellow quickies Hazlewood (who was awesome in game three) and Cummins (if he’s not rested in Sydney where it traditionally turns a bit and could favour Adam Zamora).

Pakistan (probable)

1 Sharjeel Khan, 2 Mohammad Hafeez (capt), 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik 5 Assad Shafiq, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Hasan Ali.

Assad Shafiq and Umar Akumal are under pressure to perform but may keep their places in the side due to a lack of quality replacements. That is unless Azhar Ali is fit to return.

The Key Players

Australia

Despite not taking a wicket in game three James Faulkner still leads the Australian wicket-takers in the series with 6. The canny left armer expertly mixes his cutters, off pace slower balls, and stock back of a length to trouble batsman and keep his economy rate down. Faulkner hasn’t been rested and plays an important wicket-taking role when Starc and Hazlewood are being rotated. Keep an eye on Faulkner’s immense skill as he attacks the middle overs again in Sydney.

Pakistan

Junaid Kahn and Mohammad Amir have both been incredibly dangerous with the ball in the series so far. So much so that they are more of a threat in tandem than they are as individuals. If they’re not rested in game four (Amir is a chance after spending some time off the field in the last match) their combination could be what Pakistan need to even up the series. To do so they must take early wickets and these two are the ones responsible for doing so.

The Match Odds*

Australia– $1.25

Pakistan – $3.75

*All odds from Unibet.

The Prediction

The loss at Melbourne was officially a blip and not the result of two evenly matched teams. Australia has always been dominant in one day cricket at home and this series is no different (game two aside). Normal transmission should continue in Sydney, with another comfortable win for the home side.

The Best Bets

All summer Peter Handscomb has enjoyed unbelievable fortune (he’s also played some great cricket mind you). And when it’s running your way, sometimes as punters it’s best to go with it. Handscomb was out off a no-ball early in his debut innings and went on to score. He’s at $6 to top score again on Sunday.

Shoaib Malik to score fifty is priced nicely at $3.50. Given Malik’s impact on the series so far after missing game one, this could be one Pakistan player worth showing some trust in.

New Zealand Vow to be Aggressive Against Bangladesh Tourists

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Hagley Park in Christchurch is set to be bathed in sunshine for the opening one-day international between New Zealand and Bangladesh on Boxing Day. The rebuilt venue is a glorious sight on a summer’s day and the perfect place to celebrate the start of a long Bangladesh tour and the holiday season.

We preview the opening one-day international, the first of three matches between the two countries in Christchurch this summer, below:

The Last Time These Two Met

The Black Caps didn’t have it all their own way in the 2015 World Cup with the men in the pool stages. Bangladesh made 288 batting first in Hamilton but was overrun by Martin Guptil, the tournament’s leading run scorer as New Zealand registered a win by three wickets. New Zealand will field a vastly different side to the team that made the World Cup final, meaning the Bangladesh are a real chance to get an upset or two in this series.

The Teams

New Zealand (probable)

1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Neil Broom, 5 Colin Munro, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent Boult

Matt Henry and James Neesham may not find a place if New Zealand decides to go with an attack similar to the one they employed against Australia in Melbourne. Neil Broom is likely to take Henry Nicholls’ place at No. 4, and Luke Ronchi will certainly be replacing BJ Watling behind the stumps.

Bangladesh (probable)

1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Tanbir Hayder/Mehedi Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin Ahmed

Mustafizur proved his match fitness during Bangladesh’s warm-up game in Whangerei, so if the team management is confident that he can manage himself on the field, it will be a straight swap for the injured Shafiul Islam from Bangladesh’s last ODI in October. Nasir Hossain isn’t in the ODI squad too, so a call between the uncapped Mehedi Hasan and Tanbir Hayder will have to be made.

The Key Players

New Zealand

Martin Guptill is one of the world’s most destructive one-day players and he enters this series – having been pretty consistent at home over the last few years – in destructive form. Guptil lead the run-scoring charts for NZ in their recent Chappell-Hadlee series loss to Australia and will be tasked with setting the tone for NZ in terms of aggression against a clever bowler in the man below.

Bangladesh

After sitting out much of the season, Mustafizur returns to the line-up desperately hoping he can stay fit and build on his efforts in the IPL and for Sussex in the English County Season. The 21-year old proved his fitness in the warm up loss in Whangarei, taking two wickets (although one was a strangle down the leg side) and showing he’ll be a worry for the New Zealand batsman in the Boxing Day opener. Mustafizur was also recently named ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year.

The Match Odds*

New Zealand – $1.22

Bangladesh – $4.25

*All odds from Unibet.

The Prediction

New Zealand has struggled with Bangladesh in recent years. A 4-0 series loss in 2010 was comical and further losses in 2013 seem to suggest they could cause an upset on this tour. However, the trend is not enough to call Bangladesh a bogey team for New Zealand and we can’t see a shock in the series opener. We expect Bangladesh to take some time to ease themselves into this series. New Zealand to win by 40 runs or 5 wickets.

The Best Bets

Guptill to score over 37 is paying a generous $1.87. We can’t see him missing out here.

Shakib is paying the same to score just 24. That looks good money too. $4.15 if he makes it all the way to 50.

And what about a cheeky look at Lockie Ferguson to be the top bowler at $5. His pace could scare a few of the tourist batsman and he could get some cheapies.

 

 

Cricket: Carlton Mid Tri Series Final Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Australia’s summer ODI tri-series traditionally features a three game final series and a much longer round robin format that gives a much better indication of form for the big final(s).  This year though, in the absence of a protracted series on account of the Cricket World Cup, the final is a little harder to predict.

On the face of it, Australia have the upper hand after going through the tournament unbeaten until now.  However, if Friday night’s match at the WACA was any indication, the pitch might have a few uneven demons that could even out the fixture.  England’s familiarity with the surface could prove the only advantage they hold, that, or the weird phenomenon that sees Australia struggle after most Alan Border Medal ceremonies.

The Last Time These Two Met

Australia won both the round robin games against England.  In the first match-up of the series in Sydney, England couldn’t recover from two wickets in the opening over and eventually lost by three wickets while trying to defend just 234.  Seven days later in Hobart Ian Bell led England to 303 but once again they couldn’t stop Steven Smith (102*) and Australia running over them.  England scored 303 against a much different bowling attack and given their top order stutters in other games it’s hard to see them getting near 300 again today.

The Teams

Australia (likely): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

Despite trialling a few different combinations in the series thus far, the Australian number one line-up is relatively settled.  The side expected to play today is likely to be the side that contests the bulk of the World Cup games, save for Michael Clarke.  Mitchell Johnson returns to action for the first time in the series.

England (likely): 1 Ian Bell, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 James Taylor, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.

England will not make any changes to the side that has remained unchanged in their last three games.

The Key Players

Mitchell Johnson – Mitchell Starc’s success in the series – he has 12 wickets to top the wicket takers chart – shows just how lethal Australia could be with two genuinely quick left armers who swing it.  Therefore, Mitchell Johnson’s inclusion is important to see how Australia’s game plan develops. i.e. is there room for another left armer in Faulkner? Will they play a spinner at all during the World Cup?

England’s Bowlers – Rather than single out one English bowler who has performed well in the series up to this point, and one that will take wickets again, we have chosen to earmark the pace quartet as being crucial to this match up.  Finn has ten wickets for the series; Woakes eight; Anderson five; all averaging less than 23.  Even Stuart Broad hinted at a return to form with two against India a few days ago for his first wickets in the series.  On an uneven WACA wicket, these four could be crucial.

The Match Odds*

Australia – $1.37

England – $3.11

*Courtesy of Sportsbet Australia.

The Prediction

We’re giving England a chance only if they bowl first and take 3 or 4 early wickets.  Otherwise, Australia have too much depth and should be too strong.  Australia by 60 runs or 4 wickets.

The Sportsbet Australia Special

Place a Top Runscorer Team A or Team B bet on the Australia v England Final to be played on Sunday February 1st.  If your bet loses but your selection hits a 6, we’ll refund your bet up to $100!

Your first bet for each team’s Top Runscorer is eligible, so you can take advantage of this special twice per match!