Australia are rated a value pick to edge out India in a mouth-watering Cricket World Cup battle of unbeaten teams at The Oval on Sunday. Aaron Finch’s side shaded a five-match ODI series between these countries in India three months ago by winning the last three contests in Ranchi, Mohali and Delhi.
New Zealand were handed a kind early schedule at the Cricket World Cup and are on course to capitalise with a third straight victory when facing Afghanistan. Their opponents travel to Taunton on the back of two defeats and are expected to now find the Black Caps too powerful and too professional.
England are expected to get their Cricket World Cup campaign back on track when taking on Bangladesh in Cardiff this weekend. The hosts can take heart from an excellent head-to-head record against the Tigers, having come out on top in 16 of the 20 previous ODI encounters between these teams.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have both shown how erratic they can be at the Cricket World Cup, so we reckon the value lies in supporting the underdog here. The Crusaders went into the competition under a cloud, but enjoyed a confidence boost when beating Afghanistan in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Australia and the West Indies both got off to a fine start at the Cricket World Cup but we reckon the men from Down Under are better equipped for sustained success. Aaron Finch’s side look to have peaked at just the right time, having claimed eight straight ODI wins in the run-up to this tournament.
Bangladesh and New Zealand both kicked off the Cricket World Cup round-robin stage with cracking wins but it is hard to oppose the Kiwis at The Oval. They enjoyed three easy victories against the Tigers on home turf in February, prevailing by eight wickets twice and then by 88 runs when batting first.
South Africa have made a poor start to the Cricket World Cup and things are unlikely to get any easier when they face India in Southampton. The men in blue were our pre-tournament fancies to lift the trophy, with the 1983 and 2011 champions boasting star names in all departments.
Afghanistan and Sri Lanka both began their Cricket World Cup campaigns with predictable defeats, but the former showed more encouraging signs in our book. Phil Simmonds’ side enjoyed some decent moments in a loss to Australia, whereas the Crusaders looked all at sea when crushed by New Zealand.
South Africa ultimately suffered an emphatic defeat against England but showed enough early on to suggest they should be able to bounce back versus Bangladesh. The Proteas crushed the Tigers 3-0 when they last met in this format in October 2017, prevailing by 10 wickets, 104 runs and 200 runs.
England will be looking to justify their status as pre-tournament favourites when facing South Africa in Thursday’s ICC Cricket World Cup curtain raiser. The hosts should be in fine spirits, coming off a 4-0 series win over Pakistan and an emphatic warm-up victory against Afghanistan at this venue.
Australia are expected to begin the defence of their ICC Cricket World Cup crown with a smooth success against Afghanistan in Bristol. The holders have impressed in two warm-up wins, notably beating hosts England in Southampton, where David Warner and Steve Smith both looked in good nick.
New Zealand were runners-up in the last Cricket World Cup and can get off to a flying start in this summer’s tournament when facing Sri Lanka in Wales. Their opponents revolutionised the ODI game when lifting this trophy in 1996 but are no longer the force of old and have slipped down the rankings.
Pakistan head into the ICC Cricket World Cup on a woeful run of form, but we’re backing them to come good when it matters against the West Indies. As befitting their Cornered Tigers nickname, Micky Arthur’s side tend to come out fighting on the big stage, lifting the Champions Trophy two years ago.
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