Hosts, Australia take on Afghanistan in a Group 1, Super 12 T20 World Cup fixture on Friday and we suggest a couple of bets in the game.
AUSTRALIA
Australia have to win this game and then hope that England slip up against Sri Lanka or that New Zealand fail to beat Ireland in the match before them. The problem they have is that though level on points with England and New Zealand going into this last round of matches, both sides have a superior net run rate to them.
Australia can blame their poor net run rate on their opening day defeat to New Zealand when they went down by a massive 89 runs. They bounced back with a 7 wicket victory over Sri Lanka, but their match against England was abandoned without a ball been bowled.
The Aussies made fairly short work of Ireland scoring a 179 for 5 off their 20 overs with Aaron Finch coming back to form with 63 off 44 balls and another quick fire 35 from Marcus Stoinis. Ireland could only reach a 137 before they were bowled out with just under two overs to spare and Maxwell, Zampa and Cummins all picked up 2 wickets at decent run rates.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan are going home after the group stages with 2 points, both as a result of abandoned matches. Their first game in the Super 12 section was against England where they lost by 5 wickets in a fairly tight, low scoring match. Their game against New Zealand was abandoned as was their match against Ireland and then they were beaten by 6 wickets by Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat, scoring 144 for 8 with Gurbaz top scoring with 28 off 24 and Ghani getting 27 at a run a ball. Sri Lanka chased down the score with 9 balls to spare and 6 wickets in hand and pick of the Afghanistan bowlers was Mujeeb Ur Rahman with his 2 for 24 while Rashid Khan had 2 for 31, both of them bowling their full quota of 4 overs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These sides have met twice before in T20 cricket with Australia winning on each occasion.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Australia 1/10
Afghanistan 11/2
Suggested Bet: Top Australian batsman, Mitch Marsh at 29/10
When the big guns play against the smaller teams you have to back someone towards the top of the order as there is every chance that those in the middle order may not get a run. Marsh has looked good to me in this Tournament without truly delivering and I think that he comes right against Afghanistan.
Suggested Bet: Afghanistan Total at First Dismissal under 16.5 runs @ 17/20
I am expecting this Australian attack to have too much for the Afghanistan top order and I wouldn’t be surprised to see early wickets tumble.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
