India v England Third T20 Betting: Only Kohli can stop Morgan's men

Ed Hawkins
31 January 2017

Kohli due a score for India

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Ed Hawkins previews the decider from Bangalore on Wednesday and says England are underrated to claim the spoils...

"Kohli averages 38 in Bangalore with three centuries and 17 fifties in 64 innings"

Recommended Bet
2pts V Kohli 31.5 runs or more at 4/5 Sportsbook

India v England
Wednesday February 1, 13:30
TV: live on Sky Sports

India

India kept the series alive with a come-from-behind victory in Kanpur. They looked down and out when England needed eight off the final over with Joe Root and Jos Buttler set but a brilliant Jasprit Bumrah death spell turned it.

Despite the victory India could make changes. Hardik Pandya didn't bowl in game two which left them using Suresh Raina as the fifth bowler. They will surely not risk such a situation again so Mandeep Singh, the all-rounder, and Bhuv Kumar could come into contention.

Parvez Rasool, who was dropped after the loss at Green Park, is another who could get the nod, perhaps replacing Amit Mishra.

England

Eoin Morgan has been whining about umpiring decisions costing his team victory. Come on Eoin, let's not allow cricket to descend into the pit with the worst of football. England lost because they couldn't manage Bumrah.

The pacer went for only two runs of his last two overs so their plans to counter him failed. Best to focus on that instead of an adjudicator's eyesight.

We expect changes to the XI. For example, it would be a major surprise if England went in with three spinners again so Liam Dawson, who was expensive and wicketless, could miss out. His spot could go to Jake Ball or Liam Plunkett.

First-innings runs

The scores in the last ten T20s at the Chinnaswamy read (1-2 denotes game won by side batting first or second: 208-1/158-2/211-1/248-1/151-2/191-2/185-2/185-1/191-2/227-1. That is an incredible scoring sequence and you would think 180 must be busted first up.

However, there were three matches in the World T20 which rather contradict the above. They produced scores of: 147-1/156-2/122-2.

Match odds

Before Kanpur, the two could not be separated in the betting. Now India are clear jollies at 1.804/5 with England 2.226/5. What's changed?

Nothing really. It's a bit of a puzzler there has been a reaction to the result because for 38 overs the status quo from game one remained. England had bowled brilliantly and then were in charge before Bumrah blew them off course.

Of course it wasn't a surprise England lost the chase on a wicket which has a history of assisting the side batting first. In Bangalore, however, it is flat and big bats win. So it's a straight shootout.

And that means we will have to side with England. They should be shorter than they are.

Top India runscorer

This is Virat Kohli's home ground in IPL so his record is good. He averages 38 there with three centuries and 17 fifties in 64 innings. He is 6/4 with Sportsbook for honours although the 4/5 that he scores 31.5 or more is a good opportunity. There is also 11/4 available with Sportsbook that he is the top match runscorer.

Top England runscorer

This is a wicket for those who like to hit through the line of the ball so Jason Roy (3/1), Sam Billings (7/2) and Buttler (15/2) will feel more at home than the turner in Kanpur. Root is jolly at 11/4. Morgan has a poor record on the ground, averaging 11 in five innings. He is 9/2. Roy is 5/6 for 21.5 runs or more with Sportsbook.

Total sixes

Here are the last five tallies in IPL: 23/15/20/22/17. And the three in the World Cup: 11/10/9

Ed Hawkins P-L

2017: +8.19pts
2016: +18.1pts
2015: +38pts
2014: +31.5pts
2013: +25pts
Based only on available prices. Does not include back-to-lay in-running match advice or commission rate. Figures 2013-2016 on 1pt level stakes. New points system (1pt-5) introduced for 2017.
*Follow Ed on Twitter @cricketbetting