Every team has played once now, and with the second round of matches due to start on Monday we can now look at the odds and a add a bit of current form into the mix when making our selections.
Monday sees South Africa take on Pakistan, and whoever loses this match will already be ‘all but out’ of the competition, depending on other results.
In all honesty, Pakistan were a joke with the bat against West Indies, with only two players turning up. They did mount a bit of a fightback in the field though, which was good to see.
South Africa pushed India in their defeat, for a while they were in with a good chance during their run chase. Although it could also be argued that their bowling was pretty abject in that defeat, although probably not as abject as Pakistan’s batting was.
Pakistan are unpredictable at best though. As bad as they were against West Indies, I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised to see them bat first and score over 300 runs today. That is the problem with betting on Pakistan matches, you just don’t know which side of bed they got out of in the morning.
Either way, the majority of the money seems to be going on AB de Villiers’ men as the bookmakers have South Africa as 8/11 favourites, and Pakistan at 11/10.
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are doubtful. And after watching the way South Africa bowled against India, they need all the help they can get, and certainly can’t afford to be without players of this class. They also have no Jacques Kallis at this tournament, which had already weakened their bowling.
Champions Trophy Betting
Outright winner betting sees England and India in poll position, both are 3/1 joint favourites to lift the Champions Trophy. India are the big mover up the betting, coming into joint favouritism. New Zealand have also jumped up the betting, from tournament outsiders, they have come into 11/2, fourth favourites.
Moving in the other direction are South Africa and Australia. From pre tournament joint favourites, South Africa now find themselves out at 7/1, fifth favourites, while the Aussies are a large looking 10/1.
Outright Winner Betting
England 3/1
India 3/1
West Indies 9/2
New Zealand 11/2
South Africa 7/1
Australia 10/1
Pakistan 12/1
Sri Lanka 14/1