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

MATCH OVERVIEW:

We’re getting close to the end of the group stage at the T20 World Cup and we have an interesting game on Thursday afternoon in Abu Dhabi. We have a double header today, but I’m happy to focus on West Indies v Sri Lanka on BETDAQ Betting Exchange because it’s the more competitive market compared to Australia v Bangladesh in Dubai. Unfortunately for these two sides they are unable to qualify for the semi-finals and only pride is at stake. West Indies could, in theory, match South Africa on points if they won their final two games but they would also need South Africa and Australia to lose all their remaining games badly. I doubt that’s going to happen.

To be honest, West Indies were almost out of the World Cup after they lost their first game. They collapsed for 55 against England and there was no coming back from that net run rate in a very tight and competitive group. Sri Lanka have equally been poor at this World Cup, but that was to be expected given their young side and they just haven’t been playing close to their old International standard. It’s understandable given the talent they have lost, but I would be worried about the lack of talent coming through quickly to take them to the next level in the next five years. It could be a very long time before we see anything from Sri Lanka again.

This should be a close game, however, with both sides having a lot of issues. The winner gets to save a bit of face in the group standings so while it might appear to be a dead-rubber, it’s important for both sides. We should have an entertaining game.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

We saw one of the highest scores of the tournament to date here on Tuesday as Pakistan scored 189/2 against Namibia. Afghanistan also scored 190/4 in Sharjah against Scotland – I think the kay takeaway from those scores was the opposition because in general we have had very low scoring games here. With the heavy dew coming in most evenings, you really want to bowl first. It has been a chasing tournament with batting first being tough. It’s actually hard to suggest what a par score is here because of the way the games have gone, but you’d definitely want at least 160, if that was possible, and then with dew that could be chased. It’s been very tricky to bat first and win!

RECOMMENDED BET:

Both sides have a very similar profile to be honest. They both only have one win to date with that coming against Bangladesh. West Indies clearly have the stronger squad on paper, but they haven’t fired at this World Cup and as we know when they are off form, they can be terrible. Sri Lanka looked like they could beat England the other day – they traded odds on in chase – and perhaps that’s a sign of what an advantage it is to bowl first here. We have a reasonably competitive market, and I’m happy to tip the side who bowls first. I feel that will decide the game in what is a 50/50 game in my view.

The Edge Says:
Three points win The Team Who Bowls First with BETDAQ Exchange.

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

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

I feel the in-running strategy is pretty straightforward here. You want to back the side who bowls first, look for trades on them while bowling and then while batting later. Even in the last Sri Lanka game, England traded 1.06 and we saw a brilliant 100 from Jos Buttler but Sri Lanka still traded odds on in the chase as England struggled to cope with the heavy dew and a very wet ball. I feel this is a 50/50 game between two average sides, and the conditions will decide who wins. Both sides are equally able to bat well and bowl well, but they are also equally able to collapse – the batting conditions, and toss, will decide this game. It’s a shame a toss goes a long way to deciding a game – the bias for chasing at this World Cup has been too much.