Cricket WC - Sri Lanka - Zimbabwe

[souzathelooza]

Sri Lankan eyes elsewhere as Cup exit looms

By Marcus Prior

EAST LONDON, South Africa, March 13 , 2003 (Reuters)

Sri Lanka will prepare for their final World Cup Super Six match against Zimbabwe with one eye -- and perhaps two -- on events elsewhere.

World champions in 1996, Sri Lanka are relying on their sub-continental rivals India to beat New Zealand at Centurion on Friday to keep them in the tournament.

An India victory would allow Sri Lanka to snatch the last semi-final spot if they beat the Zimbabweans the following day.

A New Zealand win over India, however, would end Sri Lankan interest once and for all.

Sanath Jayasuriya's team prepared as normal with nets on Thursday.

"We'll certainly be watching the game very closely but there's not much we can do about it. It's out of our hands," coach Dav Whatmore said.

Sri Lanka will surely spend Friday afternoon in front of the television at their East London hotel rather than in the nets.

How the Zimbabweans lift themselves for their final game of the tournament, meanwhile, is another difficult question.

Effectively gifted a place in the Super Sixes by England forfeiting their fixture in Harare and by a washed-out match against Pakistan, the tournament co-hosts have looked jaded and disorganised.

A humiliating seven-wicket defeat to Kenya on Wednesday only served to underline their failure to perform.

Injuries to key players have played a part, but Zimbabwe have beaten only Namibia and Holland, whilst suffering decisive defeats to Australia, India, New Zealand and then the Kenyans.

To make matters more sombre still, Zimbabwe are set to lose their best player for good.

Andy Flower is Zimbabwe's top run-scorer and has been the fulcrum of the side's batting for several years but is widely expected to announce that the Sri Lanka match will be his last for his country.

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Sri Lanka has everything to play for and will NOT dissapoint.
Don't be afraid of the big number here. I am laying 300+
on Sri Lanka to win the match.

RECOMMENDATION - SRI LANKA + 330

enjoy.

 

[souzathelooza]

I just made the largest wager
of my life on this match between
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

$2000US wagered with CanBet
to win $459.77.

This match should go to Sri Lanka.
They will move to the semi finals
with a victory. They go home with a loss.

I am a small time $50 bettor.
Again, this is the biggest bet
of my life....$2000US. I am pounding
the table on Sri Lanka.

enjoy.

 

[PAWAQATSI]

Good luck to you souza.....but that handle isn't encouraging!!!

 

[british bulldog]

I would class myself as an above average handicapper when it comes to cricket.

This is one game I would have stayed clear of for a number of reasons.

If Zimbabwe bat first and score 230+, the run chase will be difficult for the Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka depend entirely on their top four batsman. If Zimbabwe can get those out cheaply it is game over.

Time and time again Sri Lanka have struggled to post a total and chase a total when the top four don't make significant contributions.

Zimbabwe are a poor side, but I would not place Sri Lanks much higher then them on current form.

This match should be priced at Sri Lanka 1/2 (-200), Zimbabwe 13/8 (+162).

You have certainly taken well over the odds playing at 1/3 (-330).

I wish you luck, you may need it!

 

[souzathelooza]

The largest wager
of my life comes in a winner....

Sri Lanka by 74 runs.

 

[british bulldog]

I am glad you won, but the win by 74 runs won't tell you how close this game was at one time, and Sri Lanka have the umpire to thank for their victory, more than the quality of their play.

Betting whilst the game was being played (betting in running), the match odds at one time was Sri Lanka 8/11 (-138), Zimbabwe 1/1 (+100).

If the umpire had made the correct decission when he gave Andy Flower out when it was clear that he was not out, then this game would have been very close and at the stage of the game when this incident occured it was 50 / 50 who was going to win.