T20 WORLD CUP: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Monday’s T20 World Cup match between ENGLAND v SRI LANKA with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

It’s a new week at the T20 World Cup as we approach the half way stage. We start the week in Sharjah as England take on Sri Lanka. England have been exceptional at this World Cup so far – they hammered Australia at the weekend and will certainly top Group 1 now. We shouldn’t get a shock here in my view, Sri Lanka have been pretty average and England absolutely hammered them in a T20 series during the summer with a weaker side. The only danger I see for England here is the batting conditions in Sharjah – it’s been very tricky to bar, and a collapse is possible for any side.

Sri Lanka are in a situation now where they must win all their remaining games, and even then that probably won’t be enough. They have lost to Australia and South Africa leaving them in a tough position. They started the tournament well, but as I said at the time they weren’t tested really – I felt we might actually have had a shock loss for them in qualifying but they sailed through – they are just coming up short against the top sides because they aren’t at that level anymore with their young squad.

England are going to start this game at a short price on BETDAQ Betting Exchange, but it’s hard to see anything other than an England win. If batting is really tough, then it will be tough for Sri Lanka too and the England bowling attack looks in superb form. I think that’s been the most impressive thing about England this World Cup because their batting has always been excellent, but their bowlers have really turned up!

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

As I said above, batting at Sharjah is tricky. Sri Lanka only managed 142 against South Africa and West Indies were able to defend 142/7 against Bangladesh. The only high score has come from Afghanistan but they were playing Scotland so there was an obvious gulf in class. I feel there is a big gulf in class too here, and I would have different par scores depending on who bats first. Bowling first has looked like an edge, but you’d assume England’s batters will really fancy these short boundaries. They can’t go too mad though because this pitch is tricky.

RECOMMENDED BET:

This is a game for small stakes as England are going to start at short odds but I can’t see past them winning. I’m happy to have a small bet on them at 1.25 as they look much better than this Sri Lankan side. We might have a 1.01 train given the difference in class between the sides, but I would aim to wait for the opportunity in-running here rather than backing pre-off. Nevertheless, this should be a one way traffic win for England.

The Edge Says:
One point win England to beat Sri Lanka at 1.25 with BETDAQ Exchange.

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQEngSl

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

Although batting is really tough here and in general when batting is tough you want to bat first to take advantage of the “best conditions” here is the opposite. It’s mainly because of the small boundaries, hitting a six to take the pressure off is easier said than done, but it definitely applies at this ground with the short boundary all around the ground. Plus you have the added factor of dew taking effect. I do feel there is a huge gulf in class between the sides here, so we could see England absolutely smash Sri Lanka like Afghanistan did to Scotland here, but based on ground data the best in-play edge here is to back the side who bowls first. Perhaps if that’s Sri Lanka, lower stakes a lot, but if it’s England you’d be very confident.