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Australia vs Pakistan betting tips:
- Steve Smith to score fifty runs or more – 11/8 bet365
- Adam Zampa to take over 1.5 wickets – 5/6 Unibet
- Pakistan to have highest opening partnership – 1/1 BetGoodwin
Australia and Pakistan will face off in a crucial make-or-break match for both teams at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in Bangalore.
The Aussies breathed a sigh of relief as they got off the mark in their campaign with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka following defeats to India and South Africa in their opening two matches.
Adam Zampa was on point with the ball to take four wickets to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 209.
Pat Cummins’ men wobbled at the start of their chase, but Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis saw them over the line with 88 balls to spare.
Pakistan suffered their first defeat of the World Cup at the hands of rivals India. Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan seemingly had their side on course for a competitive total, but Pakistan collapsed and lost their final eight wickets for just 41 runs.
Rohit Sharma’s onslaught condemned them to a heavy loss, and Babar needs his team to respond to get their campaign back on track.
After looking at UK betting sites, here are our predictions for the contest in Bangalore on Friday 20 October.
Smith to kickstart World Cup
Now that Australia are up and running, one of their best batters needs to follow suit.
Smith has been quiet in the early stages of the tournament. He scored 46 in the Aussies’ defeat to India, but has followed that with 19 against South Africa and a second-ball duck against Sri Lanka.
Smith has looked far from his imperious self in the middle, and it does appear that his aura has faded after an underwhelming time during the summer in the Ashes.
The 34-year-old has been out twice lbw in the World Cup so far, albeit on the receiving end of a marginal decision against Kagiso Rabada and the Proteas. Smith’s luck appears to be out, although there is still no doubt about his class.
He has a great record against Pakistan, averaging 51.10 against them in 11 matches with two centuries. We’re backing Smith to find a semblance of his best touch to score fifty runs or more at 11/8 with bet365.
Tip: Steve Smith to score fifty runs or more – 11/8 bet365
Will Zampa build on World Cup breakout?
Zampa came into the World Cup short on confidence after being hammered in Australia’s series against South Africa.
The leg-spinner joined compatriot Mick Lewis to record the joint-most expensive figures in ODI history when his 10 overs went for 113 without taking a wicket.
Zampa failed to provide a threat in the opener against India and followed that up with another meek performance against the Proteas going for 70 from his allocation of overs.
But, the 31-year-old found his rhythm against Sri Lanka and turned the momentum of the game in the Aussies’ favour.
He claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis to prevent Sri Lanka capitalising on their excellent start with the bat, and his figures of four for 47 were impressive indeed.
Zampa may just have found his form and we’re backing him to notch at least another two wickets at odds of 5/6 with Unibet.
Who will have the highest opening stand?
Both teams have struggled at the top of the order in their recent matches. Australia have mustered opening partnerships of five, 27 and 24 from their three games to date as David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have failed to thrive together.
Pakistan have had just as many problems and have already opted to drop Fakhar Zaman from their line-up. Despite the change, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique put on 16 and 41 for the first wicket in their two matches together.
Both teams have quality bowling attacks, so the two sets of openers are going to be in for a tough ride once more.
Shafique scored a century against Sri Lanka, while Imam-ul-Haq averages 69 against Australia, scoring two centuries and two fifties against the Baggy Greens in seven matches.
Warner has struggled for form of late and is nearing the end of his career, while Marsh is not a natural opener having been pressed into duty following an injury to Travis Head.
Looking at the two sides and the Cricket World Cup odds, we’re backing Pakistan to have the highest opening stand at 1/1 with BetGoodwin.
Tip: Pakistan to have highest opening partnership – 1/1 BetGoodwin
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
