There is just one match in the Cricket T20 World Cup on Monday but it is a huge one for the two teams involved as both lost their opening game of the competition last week.
Australia were given a bit of a going over by New Zealand in Dharamsala in their opening match on Friday while Bangladesh were taken to the cleaners by Pakistan in their first game. With New Zealand already on two wins and a couple of other sides on one losing this match would all but end the chances of progressing for these two.
I got the feeling that Australia thought that there wasn’t a need for a batsman to take responsibility in their opening game. They have so many match winners with the bat and their batting depth is so big that everyone just left it to everyone else and before they knew it the game was gone.
Ashton Agar’s only over with the ball went for plenty against New Zealand and his batting didn’t really have the effect Australia needed so it might be that he makes way for someone like John Hastings to come into the side.
Bangladesh’s bowling just had no answer to a Shahid Afridi onslaught in their opening match but they shouldn’t beat themselves up about that because when he gets going few attacks in the world can contain him. They need to make sure whatever plans they have in place for this game that they execute them well under pressure.
Since they lost to Pakistan, Bangladesh have seen Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny banned from bowling for illegal actions so they are going to need to find a couple of players to take over from them. Abu Hider could be one of those to come in.
We remain in Bangalore for this match where once again we should expect the runs to flow. As with the game on this ground on Sunday I can’t be getting involved in the match betting before we know who is batting second because this ground is near enough impossible to defend.
I’ll hit the side markets again and the first of those will be on the total sixes market where surely an 11.5 line at even money is a gift horse? I think it is anyway. This isn’t Dharamsala but even there Australia belted a solid New Zealand attack for four sixes in a low scoring game.
With the chance that Aaron Finch could come into the side to open Australia could be even more powerful and on this wicket that has to spell trouble. It isn’t all about Australia though. Bangladesh have plenty of big hitters of their own, not that you need to be a big hitter to clear the ropes here.
All things being equal that 11.5 line is way on the low side and I’m expecting that to be covered quite comfortably I have to say.
I’m also going to go at Shakib’s performance line in this match. He generally goes well against Australia in this format of the game. In his last two matches against them he has scores of 28 and 66 and he’s got a couple of wickets in that time as well.
In this tournament he has been bowling well but crucially he has found his form with the bat again. He helped himself to a fluent looking 50 in the last match against Pakistan and should really enjoy these conditions. I think a performance target of 36 is well within his capabilities.
Back Over 11.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Paddy Power
Back them here:
WON – Back S.al-Hasan’s Performance Pts – 36&Over for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
