3 minute read
One of the biggest sporting events this year is the Cricket World Cup and Racing and Sports will cover some of the feature matches of the tournament.
We’ll provide a look at the form going in and a few betting predictions.
AUSTRALIA v SRI LANKA
Saturday 15 June @ The Oval
In another replay of a World Cup Final (in fact two of them), Australia and Sri Lanka face off in what could end up a result that is vital toward determining the Semi-Finalists.
The five-time winners got through a critical match on Wednesday when escaping Taunton from a monumental collapse and then a late fightback.
From 2 for 223 they managed to lose 8 for 84. Once more they didn’t bat 50 overs which is a criminal aspect of ODIs.
Australia has not got their best side worked out. In fact they can’t even decide on the best order.
They clearly batted Khawaja too high in the chase against India and probably too low in the last game. It forced Maxwell to bat a long time and he played one too many bad shots.
Marcus Stoinis’ side strain was a concern given he appeared a fixture in the middle order and with the ball.
However in Mitch Marsh, he could well end up a better result for the Aussies.
No question that is up for debate to the masses. Marsh is such a divisive figure in the cricketing fraternity. His talent at his best is without consideration.
It’s mainly that we don’t see it often enough. When he drives and cuts, the ball comes back with bruises. But he can also get out loosely or get hit on the front pads Shane Watson style.
The positive, at present, is that you must score the vast majority of runs at the top of the order and Finch and Warner are doing nicely.
In the eyes of many, David Warner should never get redemption for the dramas he was a significant part of but he can only produce on the field when it counts now.
Opponents will not like that he has begun to gain some fluency.
Sri Lanka has been a real disappointment so far. That hasn’t been helped by the fact they’ve had two No Results.
Their batting can be exciting but looks lacking in depth and the bowlers are older than most. Lasith Malinga is 35 and still critical to them.
They desperately need Kusal Perera to revive his famous innings from that chase at Durban when he made 153 out of 304. Australia need to be wary.
He and the captain Karunaratne are the only two to make fifties so far.
Australia has a good recent record against Sri Lanka. The Asian team is very much a team in transition having lost some of their greats inside five years or so. Murali, Mahela and Sangakkara had such an impact on their cricketing culture.
Kumar Sangakkara was not only a brilliant and diverse player, he's now an excellent commentator.
On top of that he was bestowed with the honour of MCC President - the first non-British person to hold that position since the club’s foundation in 1787.
As for the game itself, you can’t see Australia winning the World Cup without winning matches like this because you’d think four other sides are all capable of defeating this Sri Lankan line up.
They may well prefer to send them in because while they didn’t beat India in the chase, they batted fairly well.
This has Pat Cummins knocking over a few early written all over it. His pace, bounce and trajectory on these wickets will trouble any batting line up leave alone these opponents here.
Suggested Bets: Pat Cummins – Over 1.5 Wickets @ $1.68
Even have a little on
Suggested Bets: Pat Cummins – Most Wickets @ $3.75
