A pretty authoritative win for Pakistan in the first T20 has completely turned the odds for the second match on Thursday upside down. Pakistan went into that first match as the clear outsiders to win but after we tipped them to do so they won comfortably and now many bookmakers can’t split the two heading into this second match.
West Indies will hope a change of venue from Barbados to Trinidad will inspire some of their better form and it will need to as if they lose this match Pakistan will already be guaranteed a share of the series with two matches to play.
West Indies
There wasn’t a whole lot that went right for the defending World T20 champions in the opening match. After they lost the toss they were in trouble right from the beginning with the bat and never really gave off the impression that they knew how to turn it around let alone that they actually would do.
Batting is becoming a real issue for the West Indies. It can’t be easy not having the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell available for one reason or another but you often get the feeling if they lose an early wicket they are going to crumble and nothing that comes after that changes that thought.
Pakistan
In contrast to the home side everything looks to be ticking along nicely for Pakistan. Once again Sarfraz’s captaincy inspired them to a win – their fifth in a row in this format of the game and while their methods in most of those matches have been simple – bowl first and do so with plenty of aggression – nobody has found the answer to it yet.
There will always be a worry about the Pakistan batting although generally that only comes against extreme pace on quick and bouncy surfaces and nothing like those conditions will be around here so that might be giving them even more confidence. A sixth win in a row in this format would be pretty impressive.
Team News
I was surprised that the West Indies left Jason Mohammed out of the side for the first game given his form against England earlier this month. After a shambles of a batting effort he could come in for pretty much anyone.
Pakistan are unlikely to change a winning combination unless there is a last minute injury. If they did want to change they do have a couple of options open to them but it is unlikely.
Betting
Having backed Pakistan to win the first match there seems little point in opposing them here given that conditions might be even more in their favour here in Trinidad. On tough wickets the variety in their bowling attack really comes to the fore and perhaps more importantly West Indies’ batting goes missing in those conditions.
I still have doubts over whether Pakistan would be as good if they bat first but I just don’t see West Indies having the ability or the belief to beat them so I’m with the tourists in this one.
Tips
WON – Back Pakistan to win 2nd T20 for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with BetVictor
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