Can Collingwood dodge an early exit?

Twenty20 World Cup / Editor / 18 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

Your betting guide to England's do-or-die match versus India

England go into their final group match in the ICC World Twenty20 against India on Wednesday knowing that only a victory will keep alive their slim hopes of progressing in the tournament (110 to win).

Paul Collingwood's men threw away a chance of keeping destiny in their own hands when they crashed by five runs to New Zealand on Tuesday, crumbling to defeat after the exit of Kevin Pietersen to a dreadfully ill-judged reverse sweep.

For once in the tournament, Darren Maddy and replacement keeper and opener Vikram Solanki got their innings off to a fine start, but Maddy's run out and Pietersen's dismissal started an all too familiar collapse that even a couple of lusty blows from Luke Wright could not stop.

England now need to beat India, which they are 1.78 to manage, then hope New Zealand beat South Africa and India also beat the Proteas, as well as ensuring that England's run-rate is better than both.

But that does not mean punters should completely give up on them, as they showed a little against the Kiwis to suggest value in a couple of markets, where it would be no surprise if Twenty20 specialist Maddy made it to 50 again. Betfair will be running a 'to score 50' market for this game, as well as a Maddy v Pietersen match bet that could be worth a look.

India, backable at 2.14, have somehow managed to make it to this stage of the tournament without winning a game in regulation play, but they remain in with a decent chance of making it through to the semi-finals.

They were thwarted by the rain in the group stage against Scotland and then secured the points they needed to make it to the Super Eight phase by winning a bowl-out against fierce rivals Pakistan.

But MS Dhoni's side are right up against it again after they allowed New Zealand to get off the hook in a 10-run defeat in their opening second-phase game, when some poor bowling allowed the Kiwis to recover from 91-5 to post a testing 191 target.

They then proceeded to waste a 76-run opening stand, and that kind of inconsistency troubled them all through the tour of England, making predictions tough for punters. Most of their batsmen have managed one decent score, but none of them averages over 30.

So much of the top India batsman market will probably come down to their start; Gautan Gambhir has impressed at the top of the order, but there has been little so far from the returning Virender Sehwag, so middle-order options like new captain Dhoni, such a fearsome hitter, could provide some value.