Tag: Sri Lanka

Cricket: Sri Lanka withstand Ali and Bopara

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Reviewing existing International Cricket seems a bit meaningless in light of the tragic death of gifted Australian Phillip Hughes.   However, it is in their performances that the international cricket community can continue to show their respects, and in several performances in the first one day international between Sri Lanka and England, shades of Hughes’ quality strokeplay were evident.

Most notably, was Moeen Ali’s effort (we predicted his heroics earlier in the week). His 87-ball 119 was littered with boundaries, class and confidence. His innings further outlined his importance to England’s Cricket World Cup campaign, especially as Alastair Cook and Ian Bell continue to struggle to improve strike rates.

Ravi Bopara aptly assisted the England cause with a rapid 65 late in the piece. He was last out miscuing a leg side whack, giving Sri Lanka a 25 run win. Bopara has often been left carrying the baby of late, and is vastly improving as a finisher. Part of his development has been the ability to clear the rope rather than simply placing balls and hitting gaps. His power will be crucial on the grounds of New Zealand and Australia at the Cricket World Cup.

Sri Lanka’s first up effort setting a target was built around a balanced team effort. Three players (Dilshan, Jayawardene, and Kusal Perera) scored half centuries, while others (Matthews, Jeevan Mendis, and Thirimanne) made handy contributions at better than a run a ball. The 302 total was imposing; no team had chased more than 285 to win at Premadasa Stadium.

Making matters even tougher for the geezers was a quality spin attack that stifled the likes of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and James Tredwell as they sought quick runs at the end. Stokes in particular laboured to 16 off 27 before being stumped looking to find some much needed momentum. Woakes followed in the same suit leaving England’s cricket coaches needing to quickly find a plan to mask the middle order’s limitations against spin.

The win, Sri Lanka’s first since leaving for India to replace the West Indies in a one day international series, will provide them with a welcome boost, while England still search for a World Cup hero that single handedly win games on the big stage (notwithstanding Ali’s fantastic contribution in this game).

One rather interesting cricket anomaly occurred in the first over of England’s run chase. Captain Cook was adjudged LBW twice before successfully reviewing both decisions (both going over the top). Unfortunately for Cook, DRS form is not a selection team consideration.

Cricket: England’s path to World Cup begins in Colombo

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England’s cricket stars are in desperate need of some game time. For one, they could use a tune up before next year’s World Cup, and secondly, they need the opportunity to prove they’re a strong collective unit and Kevin Pieterson’s nonsense was exactly that.

KP has dominated cricket discussion since the end of England’s summer of cricket, so the opportunity to showcase skills on the pitch will be welcomed with open arms by their World Cup hopefuls.

They head to Sri Lanka, in the middle of rain season, to compete in seven relatively meaningless ODI’s. The series, which is designed presumably to test combinations, comes just at the right time for both teams.

Sri Lanka need confidence after taking a hammering in India, while England just need more experience for the likes of Ali, Gurney, Jordan and Stokes.

The Last Time These Two Met

The teams actually met relatively recently. In May and June of this year Sri Lanka won a five match series 3-2, playing some quality cricket along the way. The series feature four completed innings scores under 150 and only one of over 300. Alastair Cook was under intense pressure after losing the previous series; it will be interesting if he is if they suffer a first up loss here.

The Teams

Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Lahiru Thirimanne, 7 Jeevan Mendis, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Dhammika Prasad, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Shaminda Eranga

England (likely): 1 Moeen Ali, 2 Alastair Cook (capt), 3 Ian Bell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wkt), 7 Ben Stokes, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 James Tredwell, 11 Harry Gurney

The Key Players

Moeen Ali – Originally entered International cricket as a batsman who could bowl a bit. Now he rightfully commands respect as a front line spinner. Not only will he be a handful on the skidding pitches of Sri Lanka, but also expect him to score big runs. Comfortably one of the better players of spin in the English set-up.

Angelo Matthews – What a year Matthews has had. In both Test cricket and ODI cricket, the Sri Lankan captain has been epic. Often digging his side out of a whole, or if not, accelerating near the end of the innings, his contributions have been stunning to watch. Fresh off a 139 against India he should do well again.

The Odds*

Sri Lanka – $1.55

England – $2.45

*International Cricket odds courtesy of Unibet.

The Prediction

It’s always difficult to predict the winners when Duckworth-Lewis gets involved, and he definitely will at some stage in this series. England look appetizing at that price, so I’m picking them to sneak an early win while Sri Lanka’s Indian hangover continues.

International Cricket Catch Up

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Plenty of International Cricket to sink the teeth into.  Check out the quick version of each series below:

New Zealand v Pakistan

Australia came to Abu Dhabi, saw Younis bat, and got royally conquered.  Now it’s New Zealand’s turn to experience the formidable Pakistan batting unit, that has settled in on the Abu Dhabi pitches like a homeless man at an affluent street corner.  The first test is already underway, and has essentially already been decided.  The top five for Pakistan all made over 80 for the first time in Test cricket; they made 566/3d.  But Luxbet still has them at $1.75 and $2 on the draw.

New Zealand batsmen traditionally struggle against quality spin bowling, and while the Pakistan duo (trio if you include Mohammad Hafeez) are relatively inexperienced, they dismantled the Australians, and will extract plenty of venom from a pitch already turning and bouncing.  New Zealand’s best players of spin are Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor who entered this game with some injury concerns which has limited their batting time.  This will increase the susceptibility of a big defeat and may also mean others get the opportunity to shine.  BJ Watling is an excellent player of the sweep shot and looks a good bet for top runscorer for the Black Caps.

Look for spinners to dominate the leading wicket-takers for the rest of the series if you can find series betting.  Pakistan 2-0 with New Zealand scraping a draw in the last of the International Cricket three match series.

Australia v South Africa

International Cricket is also in Australia at the moment as South Africa and Australia fine tune their World Cup preparations with a (recently completed) three match T20 series (won by Australia, 2-1) and five ODI’s.  While the B sides battled it out in the hit and giggle version of International Cricket, the ODI’s will be a much sterner test for both sides and I’m picking this to be a mightily close series.  The Aussies need to bring some respectability back to their summer game after the aforementioned spanking at the hands of Pakistan.  Whereas the South Africans were very strong against New Zealand in a hasty three match series played before they crossed over the Australia soil.

Bet365 have instilled Australia as $1.66 series winner favourites with South Africa paying $2.20.  In the personal stakes, Michael Clarke looks a great top run getter options at $6.  Faf du Plessis looks sensible at $4.50.  Draw permitting this could well be a World Cup Final next year so I’m expecting some high quality cricket and high scores.  The big grounds and flat pitches in Australia are conducive to quality one day cricket.

India v Sri Lanka

Filling in for the West Indies, who inexplicably pulled out of a partially completed Indian tour, the Sri Lankan’s have found it difficult to compete with the star-studded Indian line-up.  Already two down, the tourists will need something special to contain the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dawan, Ambati Rayadu, and Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane.  That said, the resting of MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja will give Sri Lanka a chance to salvage some pride.

The Indian batting lineup has been far too dominant early in this series and their bowlers have had the uncanny knack of starting with very early wickets.  That combination makes it hard to suggest any other winner than India.  Sportingbet Australia are offering odds on this International Cricket match.  They have India at $1.42, Sri Lanka at $2.85.  If Robin Uthappa gets a go in the last two games whack a couple of quid on him to top score.  He’s paying $7.50 to do so in the 4th ODI.

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh

Our International Cricket roundup finishes in Chittagong.  The 3rd test looms as another one-sided contest.  In Tamin Iqbal, Sahib Al-Hassan, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh have the best players on display and will again be too strong.  Don’t look to back any individual players who are not the four listed above.

Betfair Australia has Zimbabwe as rank outsiders at $7.40 for the third test.  Bangladesh are at $1.69.  The draw is actually quite attractive at $3.55.