Bangladesh must beat India to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
It’s been a fascinating Cricket World Cup. After a slow start, the tournament (primarily of England’s making) has totally sparked into life, and the flurry of dead-rubbers many expected at this stage of the competition never came.
Bangladesh are one of those sides who still harbour semi-final aspirations, but a defeat against India on Tuesday will see them finally crash out of contention – depriving us of a potential qualification shoot-out against Pakistan (should England lose to New Zealand on Wednesday).
Though India lost their unbeaten record against the Three Lions, it was far from a poor performance. England batted beautifully to put a daunting first innings total on the board—with the help of a relatively flat wicket—yet India were very much in the hunt until the last 10 overs or so, until MS Dhoni’s bizarre innings ended India’s chances of a record World Cup run chase.
They are still big favourites against Bangladesh, who have seriously done themselves proud this year. Victories over Afghanistan, South Africa and West Indies—the latter seeing them chase down a mammoth 322—is impressive in anyone’s book, and I certainly wouldn’t rule them out against an India side who seriously lack conviction in the middle-order.
Shakib Al Hasan has been my player of the tournament, and if India don’t get him out cheaply, they could be sucked into an incredibly close, competitive match. However, away from the result, my first tip represents huge value: Bangladesh’s first over to go for under 3.5 runs.
Only two bowlers have a better economy rate than Jasprit Bumrah (who have bowled in over three matches), and you can be sure the 25-year-old will take the new white ball for Bangladesh’s first over.
There aren’t many better bowlers in the world at keeping the score down than Bumrah, and you can expect him to put the squeeze on the Bangladesh openers immediately.
21/20 is a fantastic price for a quiet first over.
He’s now scored five half-centuries in-a-row, but this is surely now the time where Virat Kohli finally puts a huge score on the board in this World Cup.
Kohli still averages 63 for the tournament, so he’s hardly had a stinker, but he’s perhaps been a tad disappointing by his astronomically high standards – or is that being harsh?
Anyway, Kohli averages 81 in 11 ODIs against Bangladesh—higher than any other opponent he’s played against, including a few whipping boys—and I’m certain he’ll finally get a ton. He played beautifully against England; in fact, he’s looked in good nick all tournament.
Kohli to be the match’s top batsman is a healthy 4/1.
