Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 15 February 2010 /

Infighting in Pakistan has produced a value bet whilst Barney has showed signs of returning to his best and both provide selection for this week's midweek multiple...

Bet 1: Darts - Premier League

The Premier League arrives in Bournemouth this week for the second round of fixtures on the 14 week tour. Week one showed that Phil Taylor is still a force to be reckoned with even when carrying a virus, that Raymond van Barneveld is rejuvenated after a break from the game and that Mervyn King is on top of his game.

I was however most impressed with Barney. He had looked rather out-of-sorts when competing at the recent World Championships, despite his nine-darter heroics, and was visibly struggling to cope with his newly diagnosed diabetes. But after beating James Wade quite comfortably he spoke of his new training regime and diet designed to help him combat the condition and also stated that he was back practising well.

It would be nice to see Barney back at his best this year and perhaps once again challenge Taylor in some of the major finals. He can continue his resurgence this week against an Adrian Lewis who despite an early flourish was lacklustre in his defeat against King last week.

Selection: Back van Barneveld to beat Lewis @ [2.1]

Bet 2: Football - The Championship

I must take this opportunity to eat my words and confess to my being completely wrong in my assessment of Crystal Palace and Neil Warnock a couple of weeks back. Warnock (or the Marmite man as he is otherwise known) and his players must be commended for their battling spirit shown since the club entered administration. A draw against Aston Villa at the weekend was well deserved and it could have been a second Premier League scalp had it not been for an outrageous decision to give a corner which led to a late Villa equaliser.

Attentions must now return to a league campaign which has gone from a play-off chasing one to a relegation dog-fight courtesy of a 10 point deduction. They play host to Reading and if defeated could slip into the bottom three, a fate which would be extremely harsh on both players and manager.

However, if they put in the sort of performance that they have been doing since their points deduction they shouldn't have any such worries. Backing them to win after such a gruelling FA Cup game may not be wise but laying Reading here should be a safe play.

Selection: Lay Reading to beat C Palace @ [3.5]

Bet 3: Cricket - Pakistan v England, 1st T20

The precursor to England's controversial tour of Bangladesh without Andrew Strauss is a two match Twenty20 series in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan. Paul Collingwood will captain the side for these two matches and has already spoken of the need to not underestimate their opponents, although I am a little unsure as to where he got the idea that they might do so.

Although Pakistan were comfortably beaten in the recent ODI series against Australia, they were well on top in the one Twenty20 match played between the sides before blowing their chances in the final overs and they are of course the reigning T20 world Champions. Infighting amidst the Pakistan ranks has caused punters to approach this one cautiously and thus provided a rather healthy price on them to win the match.

Both nations are extremely erratic in limited overs cricket but Pakistan are exponentially more devastating when on top form, for that reason I have to plump for them to overcome their internal squabbling and are certainly the value back to win here.

Selection: Back Pakistan to beat England @ [1.8]

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