Cricket Betting
ICC World Twenty20 – 2nd Semi-Final, The Brit Oval 17.30, 19th June 2009
Match Betting Preview
Sri Lanka – rather like South Africa yesterday – head into Friday’s Semi-Final against West Indies as odds on favorites with the bookmakers. Like the South African’s yesterday they also know that this is crunch time and that one big innings from any of a number of West Indies flamboyant batsmen or a magical spell of bowling will see them pack their bags for home after just one defeat.
The fact remains that no matter how bad West Indies have been this English summer or how good Sri Lanka have looked in this Twenty20 a big innings from Chris Gayle or a magical spell with the ball from Dwayne Bravo could knock the so far faultless Sri Lankans out.
West Indies know this only too well and will be looking to end an awful tour with an explosive finish and a final against Pakistan in which anything could happen.
Sri Lanka will have seen what happened to the rigid South Africans yesterday and will be taking nothing for granted against todays underdogs. They are expected to win – they are 4/7 favourites – and will be relying on the big match players who have seen them through so far to just keep on doing what they’ve already been doing so well.
Sri Lanka are a good strong all-round team. Malinga, Mendis and Muralitharan all have been consistant with the ball, giving their captain 12 overs a match with which he knows opposition batsmen have to treat with extreme caution. If Jayasuriya and Dilshan don’t come off at the top of the innings they then have the calming influence of Sangakkara and Jayawardene to come – the only possible weakness is who comes in after that.
West Indies still have a fitness doubt over Fidel Edwards’ back, if he fails to make it expect Darren Sammy to again deputise. Sri Lanka again have a full squad to pick from.
Not sure how to call this one in the betting. Most would expect Sri Lanka to win as they have looked the most efficient of the two teams throughout the tournament. The only doubt is that West Indies are just one of those teams that on their day can take any bowling line-up apart. It’s hard to envisage Chris Gayle smacking the two spinners to all parts of the Oval but nothing is impossible. If he or Dwayne Bravo or one of the youngsters in Windies batting line up gets going any result could be possible, for those reasons I am leaving this one alone as think it could go either way.
Match Betting Odds
Sri Lanka are 4/7 with Bet365 and Stan James
West Indies are 7/5 with Sportingbet
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