Group E – Sri Lanka v New Zealand – September 27th – Pick: Sri Lanka to win – 8/13
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The hosts will be hot favourites for this opening Super 8s clash and should have too much for New Zealand on home turf in Kandy.
Although the pitch at Pallekelle has offered some assistance to the seamers, it will take turn as well and in Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka have one of the best t20 players in the business. But then again, the Black Caps have the destructive Brendon McCullum at the top of the order and if he fires, then it could be a very close contest.
Extra Bet – A Mendis to be top wicket taker
Sri Lanka Next Fixture – September 29th v West Indies
New Zealand Next Fixture – September 29th v England
Group E – England v West Indies – September 27th – Pick: England to win – 4/5
England will be determined to bounce back in the competition after a humiliating 90 run defeat to India on Sunday. And to be fair to Stuart Broad’s side, they usually respond well to a setback.
The pitch at Pallekelle should suit England’s quicker bowlers better than in Colombo and while West Indies super spinner Sunil Narine will cause them problems, England have a great chance of getting their Super 8s campaign off to a flyer.
Extra Bet – Steven Finn to be top wicket taker
England Next Fixture – September 29th v New Zealand
West Indies Next Fixture – September 29th v Sri Lanka
Group F – Pakistan v South Africa – 28th September – Pick to win: South Africa
These two teams probably have the best bowling line-ups in the World t20 and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
However, South Africa’s batting has a more solid look to it and with the experience of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers in the top four, they could have the fire-power to come out on top back them to chase or defend most scores in this tournament.
Don’t rule out Pakistan though – they have a habit of reaching the latter stages of these big competitions.
Extra Bet – AB De Villiers to be top run scorer
Pakistan Next Fixture – September 30th v India
South Africa Next Fixture – September 30th v Australia
Group F – Australia v India – September 28th – Pick: India to win
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A clash between two cricketing super powers, both teams will be determined to get points on the board at the start of their Super 8s campaign. India’s confidence will be high after that thrashing of England and with the spinners coming more into play at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, they will be hoping the likes of R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh can cause all the damage.
It promises to be a tight contest though and the Aussies have David Warner and Shane Watson at the top of the order. They will need to be contained if one of the pre-tournament favourites are to come out on top.
Extra Bet – Warner to be top run scorer
Australia Next Fixture – September 30th v South Africa
India Next Fixture – September 30th v Pakistan
Group E – England v New Zealand – September 29th – Pick: England to win
England should enjoy playing a team not renowned for their spin bowling and will feel confident of overcoming the team from down under. If the pitch at Pallekelle keeps together and stays good for quick bowling, the likes of Steven Finn, Broad and Jade Dernbach could cause the Kiwis plenty of problems.
As always, New Zealand’s chances of victory could hinge on the big-hitting Brendon McCullum.
Extra Bet – Kieswetter to be top run scorer
England Next Fixture – October 1st v Sri Lanka
New Zealand Next Fixture – October 1st v West Indies
Group E – Sri Lanka v West Indies – September 29th – Pick: Sri Lanka to win
Sri Lanka will be banking on home support against the dangerous West Indians but if Chris Gayle and the other explosive Caribbean batsmen have their day, it could be a close contest.
The hosts will hope the pitch starts to favour spin rather than seam and if it does, their plethora of slow bowlers should cause the opposition plenty of problems.
Extra Bet – Sangakkara to be top run scorer
Sri Lanka Next Fixture – October 1st v England
West Indies Next Fixture – October 1st v New Zealand
Group F – Australia v South Africa – September 30th – Pick: South Africa to win
In short, South Africa look a better side than Australia in these conditions and will be favourites to win this important Super 8s clash. In Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, they have one of the best new ball attacks in any form of the game and Robin Peterson and Johan Botha are more-than-capable spinners.
Australia will have to be at their very best to get anything from this encounter.
Extra Bet – Kallis to be man of the match
South Africa Next Fixture – October 2nd v India
Australia Next Fixture – October 2nd v Pakistan
Group F – India v Pakistan – September 30th – Pick: Pakistan to win
Two of cricket’s biggest rivals go head-to-head on match day two in Group F of the Super 8s – and it promises to be some encounter. Both sides are well matched and it really is a difficult one to call.
Recent form, however, suggests Pakistan have the edge and they defeated the Indians in a warm-up game for this tournament – chasing a big total down in the last over.
Extra Bet – Ajmal to be top wicket taker – #
India Next Fixture – October 2nd v South Africa
Pakistan Next Fixture – October 2nd v Australia
Group E – New Zealand v West Indies – October 1st – Pick: West indies to win
As always in this form of the game, this is a difficult one to call. But on paper, the West Indies look to have more depth in their batting line-up and must start this game as favourites.
Extra Bet – Chris Gayle to be top run scorer
Group E – Sri Lanka v England – October 1st – Pick: Sri Lanka to win
England – although the number one ranked team and defending champions before the tournament – traditionally struggle against spin in the subcontinent and the host nation are bound to test their technique with plenty of slow stuff at Pallekelle. You have to fancy Sri Lanka strongly in this one.
Extra Bet – Ajantha Mendis to be man of the match
Group F – Australia v Pakistan – October 2nd – Pick: Pakistan to win
Pakistan’s batting, more so than their bowling, has been very impressive so far in the tournament but with Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal still finding their feet, you would fancy them to come good at the business end of the tournament as well.
If Australia lose early wickets, they would find it very difficult to get a competitive score and as is usually the case, they will be banking on the opening batsmen – Warner and Watson. Pakistan, in familiar conditions, should win this one.
Extra Bet – Nazir to be top run scorer
Group F – India v South Africa – October 2nd – Pick: India to win
This is an extremely difficult contest to predict and it could well be that the winner qualifies for the semi-finals.
South Africa’s main strength is their bowling and India’s is in the opposite department, making this a 50/50 contest. But with Virat Kohli in majestic form, the Indians could just shade it.
Extra Bet – Kohli to be top run score