The 2019 ICC World Cup has provided close to a month and a half of entertaining action for cricket fans around the world.
This will be the most exciting week of action as two semi-finals are scheduled to take place on 9 July and 11 July, followed by the grand finale on 14 July.
India will go in as the favourites as they have odds of 1.28 to New Zealand’s 3.60. India has only lost one match during their group games and that was to hosts England.
The 2019 World Cup format required all of the 10 teams to compete against each other but India did not play New Zealand as the match was abandoned due to bad weather.
India’s biggest strength has been the form of their openers and in particular
Rohit Sharma who has hit 5 centuries and sits at the top of the list of leading run scorers. Their bowlers have also been tremendous bowling with the new ball and at the death.
New Zealand’s biggest weakness has been the form of both their openers and over reliance on captain Kane Williamson to bail them out. They will have to bat well in order to secure a victory against a strong Indian team.
England lost to Australia during earlier in the tournament but they still enter the semi-final as the favourites with odds of 1.73 against Australia’s 2.10. England lost 3 matches during the group stage and managed to make the semis for the first time since 1992 it was a good wakeup call for the hosts who many believe will lift the World Cup.
England looks a much more aggressive and confidence side now Jason Roy has returned to take his place at the top of the order. Roy did not play in the game against Australia. England’s keys to victory are very simple. If they bat first, they need to put up a total in excess of 300 and then restrict the Aussies. If they bat second, they need an aggressive start from Roy and
Jonny Bairstow which will make the chase easy.
Defending champions Australia know that beating England will be a challenge but they will be confident of making it to the finals even though they have lost Usman Khawaja due to injury and their all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been struggling due to an injury.
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