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

MATCH OVERVIEW:

We’re back in Dubai on Thursday at the T20 World Cup as Australia take on Sri Lanka. After both sides won their opening games, this is a massive game. England have such a high net run rate and given the competitiveness of Group 1, you’d imagine that it’s going to come down to net run rate so a loss here would see the loser on the backfoot. Especially if that was Australia, as they would view Sri Lanka as a very beatable side and they would be looking at England and South Africa as their main danger.

Australia started with a win over South Africa however, and although South Africa bounced back with a win over West Indies, they have issues in their squad now with the taking the knee issue. Quinton de Kock pulled out of the West Indies game and perhaps this group is breaking up a little. At the moment however, Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa are locked together on two points each.

Sri Lanka had to come through qualifying and they impressively won all three games. To be honest I was a little surprised considering they have looked so weak before the tournament – I felt we might see a shock, but they hammered the other sides and then beat Bangladesh impressively in their first Super 12 game. Australia made hard work of chasing South Africa’s 118 in their first game – their main issue is the openers who look out of touch. I can’t see them changing things though, so let’s just see what happens and don’t forget to check out the BETDAQ Betting Exchange

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

Scores have increased a little at Sharjah in recent games, but Dubai looks the best batting wicket of the three venues. Although it definitely looks like there is an edge bowling first. England rattled West Indies out for 55 in their opening Super 12 game here and Pakistan chased down India’s 151/7 without losing a wicket. South Africa, without de Kock, chased down West Indies 143/8 too. I still feel par is around 170 in Dubai and I’d like to see what would happen should the team batting first actually get there. So far the bowling side have been on top in the first innings. I don’t think there’s a question about what to do if you won the toss!

RECOMMENDED BET:

I have to say I don’t rate this Sri Lankan team. They look very poor on paper, and they were absolutely hammered in the T20’s against England recently. They come into this game with confidence having won their four games, but the jury is out on Bangladesh given they lost to Scotland in qualifying and bowling first might have provided an edge in that game. Australia are much stronger, with conditions suiting them more at this ground than the two others in the UAE. I’m confident on an Australian win.

The Edge Says:
Three points win Australia to beat Sri Lanka at 1.43 with BETDAQ Exchange.

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

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

As I said above, I feel the side bowling first will have a slight edge here. I would be happier if that was Australia and increase my stakes as Sri Lanka don’t look too strong with the bat. If Sri Lanka got to bowl first, I would be happy to take on the Australian openers and then look to switch back onto Australia at the innings break if they got a decent score. Maxwell was in superb form in the IPL, and he could really do some damage here so I would support him. Other than that, I’m happy to get against Sri Lanka when batting but I do feel the biggest edge here is to trade the side bowling first – just reduce stakes if that’s Sri Lanka.