T20 World Cup: Semi-Finals Predictions and Betting Tips

Four teams have qualified for the Semifinals of the #T20WorldCup. Ongama Gcwabe previews and predicts teams to progress to the Final for Bet Central.

Predictions, Standout Players and Stats.

The Super 12 round is done and dusted, only four teams remain at this World Cup namely Pakistan, England, New Zealand and Australia.

Let’s break it down.

England v New Zealand

The first semi-final will take place in Abu Dhabi, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. This match will be a trip down memory lane to the 2019 50-Over World Cup Final in which these two teams put on an enthralling performance that went to a Super-Over.

England head into this encounter having lost against South Africa in spite of winning the toss which has been a defining factor in a major way at this tournament. As strong as England are, they are beatable and New Zealand will be looking to exploit any weakness they have shown in the loss against South Africa.

Standout Players at 2021 T20 WC

For New Zealand, Trent Boult has picked up 11 wickets in five matches & sits third in the top-wicket takers behind Adam Zampa and De Silva. Martin Guptill has a top score of 93 at this World Cup and he features in the top 10 of top-run scorers at this WC.

For England, Jos Butler is the only player to score a century at this WC with his unbeaten 101. He sits second on the leaderboard of top run-scorers. Adil Rashid’s 8 wickets make him England’s leading wicket-taker in this edition of the tournament thus far.

Head-To-Head Stats in T20 WC

England and New Zealand have faced each other in 5 matches in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments. Out of these 5 games, England have won 3 whereas New Zealand have come out victorious on 2 occasions. The highest total posted by England is 172 runs while the highest score posted by New Zealand is 164 when these two teams have clashed with each other in WC. 52 is the lowest total posted by New Zealand and 149 is the lowest total posted by England in the marquee event.

Prediction & Suggested Bets

New Zealand to win. Trent Boult to finish pick of the bowlers with three or more wickets. Devon Conway to finish top-scorer with 50 runs or more.

Suggested Bet: New Zealand to win at 1.40

Suggested Bet: Highest Individual Score over 60.5 at 1.83

Value Bet: Devon Conway to be top NZ batter at 5.00

Pakistan v Australia

The second semi-final will take place at the Dubai International Stadium, in Dubai at 16:00 SAST on Thursday.

Before the Super 12 round started, Bet Central predicted Pakistan as a Wild Card that has the potential to beat every team in this World Cup. They have gone on to win five from five, maintaining a record no other team has been able to achieve at this World Cup.

Contrary to popular opinion, I think Australia has too many good memories to draw from at ICC events to be able to assemble the confidence and the motivation needed to win against an in form Pakistan side.

As great as Pakistan have been, as great as Babar Azam and the other batters have been, I think this will be one of the times in sport where we see a team on form succumb to the law of averages, more like Liverpool did against an inform West Ham side in the Premier League.

Standout Players at 2021 T20 WC

For Pakistan, Barbar Azam is currently the leading run-scorer in this WC. He has scored 264 runs at an average of 66 with a strike rate of 128. In the bowling front, Harris Rauf has picked up 8 wickets so far at an impressive economy rate of 6.8 to the over.

For Australia, Mitchell Marsh is the inform batter and he has shown his class and brute force when he carved a half-century against West Indies in Australia’s previous game. Adana Zamora has been impressive as a spin bowler, he has 11 wickets so far and has managed an economy rate of just over 5 runs an over.

Head-To-Head Stats in T20 WC

Australia and Pakistan have faced each other in 6 matches in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments. Out of these 6 games, Australia have won 3 whereas Pakistan have come out victorious on 3 occasions.

The highest total posted by Australia is 197 runs while the highest score posted by Pakistan is 191 when these two teams have clashed with each other in WC. 149 is the lowest total posted by Pakistan and
117 is the lowest total posted by Australia in the marquee event.

Prediction & Suggested Bets

Suggested Bet: Australia to win at 1.95

Value Bet: Mitchell marsh to be top AUS batter at 5.50

Value Bet: Josh Hazlewood to be top AUS bowler at 4.00