Bookies Blog

We’re down to the final four teams in the 2009 World Cup Twenty20 and some of the world’s greatest cricketing teams have fallen by the wayside. Most prominently, both India and Australia have failed to achieve anything in the competition, India having exited the competition in the Super Eight and Australia in the first group stage. This has cemented the view that expectations rarely come to fruition in the realm of Twenty20 cricket, much to the joy of the bookmaker.

However, the South Africans are still in the running, as they play Pakistan in the first semi final at Trent Bridge today. South Africa, who are often accused of choking at the semi final stage of tournaments, will be doing everything to beat there demons today and as James Milton jokes in today’s racing post, maybe they’ll even resort to Viagra to help them push on past the semis. They are favourites for the tournament at 13/8 and are heavy favourites to win today at 8/15 whilst Pakistan are 6/4 to win the tie.

The other semi final takes place tomorrow between West Indies and Sri Lanka which should be a far closer run game. Chris Gayle’s team have used their batting might to force their way through the tournament so far but bookies believe that they might find their maker in Sri Lanka and have posted them as 11/8 outsiders to proceed to the final.

However, as we know all too well, any two of these four could end up in the final. Nevertheless, it does seem that South Africa are deserved favourites; they have a well structured team and look as if they understand Twenty20 tactics. They have been composed throughout the tournament and rarely made mistakes with bat, ball or in the field, the same can be said of Sri Lanka who are yet to lose a match.

Sri Lanka, who are 5/2 second favourites have not yet played South Africa and if both teams were to proceed through the semis then it would make for an extremely exciting final. However, Pakistan and The West Indies are both 9/2 to win the tournament outright, which does seem a bit short for two teams who are so obviously inferior to their opponents. It seems that the value is in Sri Lanka, it is unlikely that Pakistan or The West Indies will have the ability to see off both Sri Lanka and South Africa. Meanwhile South Africa are too short at 13/8, so I believe the best available value is with Sri Lanka at 5/2, who have a very realistic chance of winning the competition.

Meanwhile there is still fierce competition in the top bowler and top batsman markets; Gul and Mallinga are battling it out for top bowler at 7/4 and 11/4 respectively. Whilst in the top batsman market Dilashan at 8/15 is odds on favourite, but final flourishes from Jacques Kallis 5/1 or AB de Villiers 7/2 could upset the market.

Click here to see all available betting on the Twenty20 world cup.