The final match of the first round of the T20 World Cup is actually a dead rubber as we already know that what happens in it Sri Lanka will go through to the Super 12s and the Netherlands will be heading home as they meet in Sharjah on Friday.
This is the second match of the double header on Friday and gives these two sides another chance to showcase their talents on this stage. It is probably a bigger match for the Netherlands given that it is their last outing in the competition.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankans were expected to breeze through this first round group and that is exactly what has happened. Unless they lose by a sizeable margin they are going to win the group and head through with their confidence high. Another win here will set them up for their Super 12 opener over the weekend nicely. Now that there is nothing on this match, Sri Lanka can now become the underdogs and you suspect that will suit them a lot better.
Although they have dominated the group, Sri Lanka haven’t been without their issues. Their top order hasn’t got going at all yet and this match offers a chance for them to find some form. They are not going to win this tournament without runs from their top three so they really need them to go well here. That is the only problem though because they are bowling very well and have the ideal blend of extreme pace and mystery spin.
Netherlands
It has all gone wrong for the Netherlands in this tournament and they are going to exit with their tail between their legs. They put a squad together that should have been competitive in this group and they should have really laid down a challenge to qualify for the Super 12s, but despite their strength on paper they just haven’t performed in any department in the game and their exit has been confirmed as a result of that.
Now that the pressure has been lifted, the Dutch will be looking for some form and to come out of the competition with a bit of credit and if they can take the scalp of Sri Lanka it will be significant, especially when you consider that the next one of these T20 World Cup’s come along next year. In order for that to happen their batting in particular needs a dramatic improvement. Their bowling can tighten up too but their batting has not been great so far.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account to get up to £25 in free bets! Perfect offer for this tournament! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Key Men
There has been a lot of attention on the Sri Lanka bowling attack and the surprise package to it has been Maheesh Theekshana. Associate teams generally struggle against mystery spin so the young wrist spinner could go well here.
This will be the final match in the career of Ryan ten Doeschate and a career as good as his deserves to go out on a high. He might be given a slightly higher batting position to give him a send off in style and he’ll be looking to deliver a big showing.
Betting
Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of Wanindu Hasaranga and given that he has covered his performance line with the ball in the opening match and with the bat in the second one I think it is worth taking him to complete the hat trick here. He scored 60 points in that first match against Papua New Guinea with two wickets and two catches and then he totalled 91 points against Ireland last time out courtesy of 71 runs and a wicket.
You would think there is more to come from Hasaranga here in Sharjah where during the IPL the pitches were very slow and low and suited his style of bowling nicely. With Sri Lanka not going great guns with the bat at the top of the order and the Netherlands having the bowlers to get him to the crease, he should score with the bat on a smaller ground than the one he played the first two matches on. There is more than enough to suggest that he’ll go beyond his target of 34.5 points, especially when you consider how weak associate sides tend to be against quality spin.
Tips
Back W.Hasaranga’s Performance – Over 34.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
