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Tournament joint-hosts West Indies aim to maintain their winning streak against reigning champions England, who after a slow start are starting to hit their stride.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday 19th June, 2024: USA (WST) – 5:30pm / USA (CST) – 7:30pm / USA (EST) – 8:30pm / Saint Lucia – 8:30pm / Thursday 20th June, 2024: UK – 1:30am / India – 6:00am / South Africa – 2:30am / Pakistan – 5:30am / Bangladesh – 5:30am / Australia – 10:30am
VENUE: Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, West Indies
WEATHER: After potential rain earlier in the day, conditions should be dry at the time of play with cloudy skies, a gentle breeze and temperatures at 28c.
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: USA – Willow TV / West Indies – ESPN Caribbean / UK – Sky Sports / South Africa – SuperSport / Pakistan – PTV Sports & TEN Sports / India– Star Sports / Bangladesh – Disney Star
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: USA – Willow TV website / West Indies – ESPN Play Caribbean app / UK – Sky Go / South Africa – SuperSport app / Pakistan – Myco & Tamasha / India – Disney+Hotstar / Bangladesh – Disney+Hotstar / Australia – Amazon Prime Video
WEST INDIES FORM: THRASHING OF AFGHANISTAN FURTHER UNDERLINES WINDIES CREDENTIALS
It was a perfect start to the ‘Super 8s’ for West Indies with a thumping 104-run triumph over Afghanistan, their eighth straight T20i victory. Momentum is firmly with the Windies at present, with their batters performing well and the spin-duo of Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie complementing each other really well.
LAST FIVE: WWWWW
ENGLAND FORM: BUTTLER’S SIDE HOPING TO BEGIN PEAKING AFTER EDGING THROUGH THE GROUP STAGE
Plenty of times across the group stage it seemed like England were set for an embarrassing exit and a second meek world title defence in succession. However, victories over Oman and Namibia respectively, combined with Scotland losing to Australia saw England narrowly through on net-run-rate.
LAST FIVE: WWLAW
WEST INDIES BETTING ANALYSIS
After lighting up Gros Islet at the start of the week with a brutal 98 from just 53 balls, Nicholas Pooran has to be considered the key danger man for West Indies batting at number three. Pooran is now the second highest run-scorer across the tournament at the time of writing with 164 runs to his name. Back him to gain 20+ runs via the ‘Batter Milestones’ and also to hit over 1.5 match sixes, an excellent value bet when considering Pooran’s ability to clear the boundary rope.
It won’t be easy to defend the boundaries, but this could enhance Akeal Hosein’s wicket-taking potential, which is already high. The left-arm spin-bowler boasts nine wickets during the competition so far and could be the beneficiary of England’s aggressive batting style. Therefore, back Hosein to take over 1.5 wickets here.
ENGLAND BETTING ANALYSIS
The big question from a betting point of view is pinning down the most likely run-scorers for a stacked England batting line-up. Harry Brook is coming off the back arguably his most important T20i knock for England, scoring an unbeaten 47 from 20 balls against Namibia. Both he and opener Jos Buttler pose that ‘fear-factor’ and backing each of them with small stakes to finish as England’s top batter through the ‘Team – Top Batter’ market warrants consideration.
Each of England’s last three games have seen Jofra Archer take at least one wicket, the right-arm pacer having displayed all the qualities that makes him one of the best bowlers in the world when fully fit. Archer’s speed should cause the Windies problems and create opportunities for wickets and a smart move would be to back him taking 2+ wickets.
WEST INDIES VS ENGLAND EXPERT PREDICTION
If England are at their best, you would expect them to be stronger than West Indies comparing them player-for-player. However, the Windies have proven quite the winning machine recently in T20i cricket and also boast the crucial home advantage. They bat as deep as England which will suit them on a good batting strip at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
Expect a high-scoring contest and potentially a close one where smart bowling is likely to decide proceedings. It could go either way and the toss could prove important. But the form of West Indies and being on their own patch makes them worth backing to beat out the reigning champions.
WEST INDIES VS ENGLAND TOP TIP: WEST INDIES TO WIN
