- USA v Canada: Group A, Sunday June 2, 1.30am - Grand Prairie Stadium, Grand Prairie
- West Indies v Papua New Guinea: Group C, Sunday June 2, 3.30pm - Guyana National Stadium, Providence
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
For the likes of USA, Canada and Papua New Guinea, this tournament is about aiming to spring a surprise. They aren’t going to win the title, but a big scalp would represent success.
For the West Indies, the opening day clash with PNG is about making a statement. They could do with winning well to leave us thinking, ‘They’ll be dangerous’.
The USA have just come off a 2-1 warm-up series win against Bangladesh, and they won a five-match series with Canada last month 4-0. The other fixture was rained off.
I expect them to win this one, but I will be swerving the 40/85 price on offer in order to look for value with other online bookmakers. It won’t surprise you to learn that’s the same with the West Indies, who are 1/33 to beat the Barramundis.
USA v Canada, Grand Prairie, 1.30am UK
We head to Texas for an early start as the neighbours meet. The US, coached by Stuart Law, take their place in a major tournament for the first time.
And I expect them to get off to a winning start.
USA all-rounder Shadley van Schalkwyk (Cape Town-born) has been in good form with the ball recently. He was their joint-leading wicket-taker with six wickets in four matches against Canada in April and added two more with his seamers in a clash with Bangladesh a week or so ago.
He also bats high enough to get enough time to shine with the bat.
With that in mind, I like bet365′s 5/6 on over 24.5 on the player performance market. That’s a point a run, 10 per catch and 20 per wicket.
Ladbrokes also have him at 11/8 to take over 1.5 wickets in the match, a price which has appeal.
Also, USA captain Monank Patel, who has opened the batting in recent series against Canada and Bangladesh with some success, is 9/2 to be their top run-scorer with Ladbrokes. In his last four matches, he has posted scores of 68 and 42. That price is definitely worth taking on.
West Indies v Papua New Guinea, Providence, 3.30pm UK
Gudakesh Motie, the West Indies left-arm spinner, should have a good day to continue an excellent run of form, which has yielded eight wickets in his last three T20 internationals against South Africa over the last couple of weeks. He took two more in a World Cup warm-up match against Australia.
VirginBet have him available at 11/10 to take over 1.5 wickets. He has been introduced into the attack just outside the powerplay in recent matches, so he should have plenty of opportunity to strike even if early wickets fall.
I’ll be siding with West Indies opener Brandon King to have a good start to the competition. bet365 have the in-form batter at 2/1 to score a half-century in the fixture.
He has posted scores of 79, 36 and 44 in his last three T20 matches, against South Africa recently.
Why not get on him to be the West Indies top batter as well, at 3/1 with VirginBet. You would think in one-sided games like this that those opening the batting have the best chance to secure this bet.
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