T20 Cricket World Cup Thursday Tipsheet: Back Italy for upset and two reliable players to deliver

• • Italians could go out on a high

  • Clutch of solid pros to make Windies sweat

  • Evans a top bowler bet

  • Rashid Khan can deliver with the ball

  • For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

West Indies v Italy - Underdogs worth a trade on Betfair Exchange

West Indies v Italy
Thursday, 05:30
TV: live on Sky Sports

West Indies are the one established nation which, at the moment, would go forward to the Super Eight without a blemish on their record. They have been almost perfect in the first group stage with an efficient display against the Scots and handing out beatings to Nepal and England.

Elsewhere India had a major wobble against USA, South Africa likewise against Afghnaistatan while New Zealand and Pakistan (probably progressors) have blotted their copybook. Can the Windies escape without a mistake with only Italy in their way?

Maybe not. Italy have been thrusting and fun to watch. But we're not asking them to take the points in this contest at Eden Gardens. We just want them to be in the game. And a slightly lacklustre West Indies, knowing the job is done, could be vulnerable. They are not good enough to rock up and not be at it 100%.

It is one of the issues with the seeded Super Eight that a lot of the final round matches are meaningless. If Windies needed to win to confirm top spot in their section for what they viewed as a more beneficial next stage (or points were taken through) then there would be something on this game.

As it stands, Italy will be pumped and they have the players to cause problems. The Mosca brothers, JJ Smuts and Grant Stewart have shown they can hit with the bat while legbreak googly Chrishan Kalugamage has caused problems. The Manenti brothers meanwhile have been superb. They have brought their domestic Australia experience to bear. In short Italy have a crop of competitive players who can get a foothold in the game.

Trading Italy from their current win price of 9.208/1 on the Betfair Exchange is the option. From there we're looking to get their price down to 4.03/1 to lay which is not a big ask at all. That could be, for example, a good three-to-four over spell batting first going at nine an over. Double the back stake on the lay button for all green.

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe - Back Brad Evans top Zimbabwe bowler @ 7/24.50

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
Thursday, 09.30
TV: live on Sky Sports

It is a great shame that this is another dead rubber. Both teams have already qualified so the competitive juices might not be flowing as they should. It could have been a cracker. Of course, it could still be if we underestimate the desire of either team to be the one which wins the group. We will see how much motivation is there.

Sri Lanka have won all three and and will take credit for knocking out Australia. But it was Zimbabwe's mean display with the ball which really did for the Aussies. Both teams go forward into the Super Eight hopeful of doing more damage. The likes of England and New Zealand in Group Two will not fancy taking on Sri Lanka on their own patch.

One could be forgiven for thinking this contest could well be decided by the toss. In night T20i matches 21 of 30 have been won by the chaser. But this is a day-night game and, bizarrely, the trend flips the other way. Thirteen of 20 have been won by the defender.

Instead of getting bogged down with all that, it may be wise to stick with a tried and tested formula. And that is backing Brad Evans for top Zimbabwe bowler. Evans has one of the best win rates in the buiness and the Betfair Sportsbook's 7/24.50. is a bet

Afghanistan v Canada - Back Rashid Khan top Afghanistan bowler @ 13/53.60

Afghanistan v Canada
Thursday, 13.30
TV: live on Sky Sports

Another dead rubber. Well, for Afghanistan at least. Canada will be desperate to get onto the park to see if they can claim a scalp after giving a fine account of themselves with the bat against New Zealand.

Yuvra Samra's brilliant 110 off just 65 balls should breathe confidence into the side. Every team member is more likely to feel like they belong after that innings and they should be gung-ho against an Afghan team irritated and bowed by an early exit.

Afghanistan had their chance in the Super Over against South Africa but blew it. They were also outclassed in Chennai by the Kiwis in a game they should have done much better in.

One of the main reasons for Afghanistan not quite coming up to the mark is Rashid Khan's form. Four wickets in three games isn't the return that he would have been hoping for. He is way overdue a top bowler win and it is worth considering now at 13/53.60. His mystery could be too much for some of the Canadians.

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