T20 Cricket World Cup Sunday Tipsheet: Namibia can end USA dreams

• Could Windies lose to Nepal again?

• Hope, Powell, and Rutherford bets

• USA struggling with illness

• Namibia have talent for 'upset'

• For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

West Indies v Nepal - back Shai Hope to WI runscorer @ 11/43.75

West Indies v Nepal
Sunday, 05:30
TV: live on Sky Sports

West Indies are on the charge for an unlikely T20 World Cup and everything is going their way. They have beaten England with the prospect of Australia being knocked out, thus giving them a slightly easier Super Eight Group 1, bolsters their prospects.

It would be therefore entirely typical of their now longstanding reputation for calamity that they would lose to Nepal. Which is not unheard of. In September the two played a three-match series which Nepal won 2-1. The series didn't even stay alive for game three with the Nepalese winning by margins of 19 and 90 runs.

Of course it is true that only Akeal Hosein and Jason Holder survive from that series but the warning is clear. Nepal may also feel emboldened, particularly after their exploits against England. 

Nepal are 6.6011/2 for the upset. To be fair it's not a price that leaps from the coupon and is a must bet. One would expect that to drift slightly to more appetising numbers if Windies were to bat first in the expectation of runs.

The best players to follow include Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd for top bat and bowler respectively. They have excellent win rates, way out of line with their odds of 9/110.00 and Romario Shepherd at 9/25.50. the problem with both wagers is that West indies are far from reliable in their tactics. Powell could bat as high as No 4 but as low as No 7. Shepherd, given his record, should be their go-to death bowler but he didn't even bowl his full quota against England.

One player who is guaranteed to bat in his usual position is opener Shai Hope. Hope is overdue a top-bat win and just about has win rate onside at 11/43.75 against an attack he shouldn't fear. He is the most rational option. 

USA v Namibia - back Namibia 2.3411/8

USA v Namibia
Sunday, 09.30
TV: live on Sky Sports

USA produced an odds-against upset against Netherlands to keep alive their slim hopes of qualification. They need India to dish out a good, old-fashioned ICC global event hammering to Pakistan (also on Sunday) and then hope Namibia can do them a favour in Pakistan's final group game.

But job one will be winning this contest. It will not be easy, not least because illness is sweeping through the camp. Key player Andries Gous missed the win over Dutch with fever. Ali Khan is not a 100% fit and the coaching staff have said more players are suffering.

Gous's absence meant a return to the XI for Saitea Mukkamulla. It was a surprise he was ever out of the XI given he has been America's most reliable top-bat winner since the end of the last World Cup. He had a rate of 35% and then copped again with a brilliant 79 from 51 to set up the win. It should be alarming that USA have said they had been able to fit him in previously because of 'balance'.

If Gous is fit, surely he keeps his place? Which means that other strong performers like Sanay Krishnamurthi or Milind Kumar could miss out.

The Americans have won both head-to-heads (in October in 2024) so it is not a surprise they are favourites. The 1.664/6, though, is too short and probably isn't a fair reflection on the ability of the side. Namibia have some powerful, durable players and they only need a couple of them to get into the game to cause problems.

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