The Cricket World Cup continues on Friday morning (09:30), as Australia look to continue their comeback against Pakistan in Bangalore. We’ve previewed this huge clash and given our best betting predictions.
Australia (8/15) pulled themselves back from the brink of group stage elimination, with the comprehensive win over Sri Lanka. Their five-wicket victory came as a massive relief , after the Lions start with a 125 run partnership, before an inspired spell from the captain Pat Cummins and some clever spin from Adam Zampa pegged them back to just 209.
The Baggy Green batted with more intensity and purpose than in their opening two games, with Mitch Marsh in particular looking to impose himself at the top of the order.
Next up is a Pakistan (6/4) side that are licking their wounds following a bit of a mauling from the bitter neighbours, India. Similarly to Sri Lanka, Pakistan started tremendously, before collapsing from 155/2 to 191 all out. Even for Babar Azam’s side, that was a collapse of the highest order.
Team news
Adam Zampa appears to have recovered from a niggling back injury and will line up here, after his match-winning spell in the Sri Lanka win.
Australia (probable) David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan’s squad has been hit by a viral infection ahead of this massive match, so it is hard to estimate what team they will go with here. Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the next two games with a knee injury
Pakistan (probable) Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
Pakistan to win – 6/4
Australia may have won last time out and Pakistan lost but I still don’t think all is well in the Aussie camp.
Those two results could easily have been reversed, were it not for two shocking batting collapses and I think Pakistan will be eager to put the record right here.
I’d probably have this match as a straight 50/50 and wouldn’t be backing Australia at almost 2 to 1 on.
Mohammad Rizwan top PAK run scorer – 10/3
I backed Rizwan against India and it just fell short as he was removed by a Jasprit Bumrah jaffa.
The keeper is in fantastic touch and is averaging 124 for the tournament. With the Pakistan openers struggling to assert themselves this could be a great value bet.
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