ICC T20 World Cup, Tips and Previews
Oman vs. Papua New Guinea
October 18th
Host nation Oman gets us underway in the ICC T20 World Cup with a clash against rank underdog Papua New Guinea.
Oman has slowly become one of the more competitive associate nations in the ICC with Jatinder Singh proving a pivotal figure with the willow in the last year of cricket.
Singh has been the leading hand at the top of the batting for Oman averaging over 40 runs at a strike rate of just over 136.
His form could very well be the main reason Oman takes home win this crucial opening clash.
Papua New Guinea will be happy to feature on the international and the experience and exposure it gains, regardless of the result, with be invaluable.
Oman should waltz to victory here.
Suggested Bet:
J. Singh leading run scorer for match at $4.50
Netherlands vs. Ireland
October 18th
An early danger game unfolds for Ireland when it faces Netherlands as the nations open their accounts in the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Both teams have more than enough quality through their batting and bowling attacks to cause Sri Lanka and Namibia serious trouble.
Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien will get the experienced heads at the top of the batting order in an Irish side that set to let youth have a big say.
Netherlands, meanwhile, has continued to creep its way up the ICC T20 rankings.
This is definitely the best team the Dutch has ever put together at any international tournament, but will still be reliant on captain and all-rounder Pieter Seelaar to pick up the run rate with the bat and slow down the run rate with his off-spinners.
The Irish have built themselves into a fairly solid short-format nation and, despite missing a heap of old heads who have reitred it should have enough to see off an improving Netherlands squad.
Suggested Bet:
Ireland head to head at $1.80
Namibia vs. Sri Lanka
October 19th
Sri Lanka gets its T20 World Cup underway against Namibia in Abu Dhabi.
The form of both nations leading into the tournament has been very encouraging with the underdog Namibia winning 18 of its last 22 T20 clashes, while the Group A top seed accounted for Oman, Bangladesh, and had little trouble against Papua New Guinea.
Namibia has only beaten up on associate nations with the one victory against Ireland proving it can match it with genuine ICC-performed nations.
The pressure, however, will be firmly on Sri Lanka with other side has making the final of this tournament more often.
Sir Lanka was the champion of the T20 world only two tournaments ago, but this format is now the weakest for this nation.
The fact it is favourite to progress through to the league on top of the Group A table must be respected though.
Kusal Perara is the man to watch from a Sri Lankan perspective and his performance with the will determine how well his nation goes.
