By Aidan Smyth
Sri Lanka vs Ireland
05:00 @ Blundstone Arena
Ireland secured qualification with a scintillating win over the Windies, Paul Stirling firing them to victory. Sri Lanka lost their first game but were then very impressive to qualify for this stage, so it should be a very competitive game.
As seen in a previous Behind the Odds post, Pathum Nissanka is the Sri Lankan batsman to follow in. The world number 8 batsman has already top scored for the Sri Lankans in one game, and I expect him to do the same again here.
Sri Lanka will be looking to get off to a good start in the super 12, in what, on paper, should be their easiest game of the group, and Nissanka is key to getting them off to a good start. An opener has been the Sri Lankans top scorer in 2 of the 3 games so far and at 9/4, I’m backing Nissanka to continue that trend.
Pathum Nissanka top Sri Lanka batsman - 9/4
Pathum Nissanka top match run scorer - 7/2
India vs Pakistan
09:00 @ Melbourne Cricket Ground
What a clash we have here! Arguably the biggest rivalry in cricket and we are treated to it in the opening round of games.
Similarly to yesterday in the England game I am purely looking at the bowlers and in particular Haris Rauf. The game being played at the MSG is huge for Rauf, he was the star of the Big Bash when playing for the Melbourne Stars a couple of years ago, taking 20 wickets in the season, so he is proven on this pitch.
Rauf is 7/2 to be the Pakistan top bowler and a huge 25/1 to be man of the match, with Paddy Power, both of these prices seem way bigger then they should to me, for a man who is proven on this pitch, and I fully expect Rauf to take a couple of wickets and get Pakistan off to a flying start.
With India I am similarly astounded by the price of Shami to be the top Indian bowler. He showed his class last time out taking 3-4 from his one over, and he was clearly being nursed back to fitness. This is definitely the biggest game for India and they can’t afford to not play their best bowler if he’s fit, so I fully expect Shami to play and bowl 4 overs, and if he does, 7/2 is a crazy price on him being the top Indian bowler.
Suryakumar Yadav is another angle I am looking at, he’s the world number 2 batsman, and if he starts to fire he will make a mockery of the 4/1 Paddy Power are offering for him to top the Indian batting market.
With Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi bowling in the powerplay, I fully expect a couple of wickets early in the innings and this will give SKY plenty of batting time coming in at 4. Yadav has a career t20I average of 38.70, which is absolutely remarkable, especially considering he strikes at 176, this is a special batsman and 4/1 is a terrific price, as is the 17/2 to be top run scorer in the match.
Haris Rauf top Pakistan bowler - 7/2
Haris Rauf player of the match - 25/1
Suryakumar Yadav too India batsman - 4/1
Suryakumar Yadav top match batsman - 17/2
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