Firstly, sorry about stepping into other members forum when I posted my early world cup wagers which can also be viewed in my community pages by using the links from the home page.
I have remained quiet through the first week of the tournament, reason being, to see how the minows go about building their innings, and the attitude adopted by the better sides.
I now feel I have some reasonable bets for tomorrow Saturday. I have posted the start time of each game (UK time) so those overseas can adjust to their own time zone.
Pool A: Australia v India (Centurion 0800GMT)
You couldn't be anything other than hugely impressed by Australia's performance in their opening game against Pakistan. If they were ever going to be vulnerable it was that day, with Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann missing in the middle order.
And when Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reduced them to 86 for four I thought we were about to witness a minor shock - especially as they still seemed in shock after Shane Warne's exit from the tournament.
But the Aussies showed just why they are the best side in the world as Andrew Symonds, just when his country needed him most, played the innings of his life as he blasted an unbeaten 143 to help them to an imposing 310 for eight.
Pakistan were then bowled out for just 228 with all the bowlers among the wickets and suddenly the Aussies appeared unbeatable again.
That innings must have given Symonds and the whole side a massive confidence boost given that it came against arguably the best attack in the competition - bar Australia, of course.
They should find it altogether easier going against India who looked awful in their opening game with Holland.
The batsman never got to grips with a gentle Dutch attack and limped to 204 all out, a miserable effort against such weak opposition.
Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble did then take four wickets apiece as Holland were bowled out for 136 but it was hardly a performance that suggested the Indians are going to be a match for Australia.
Their strength is clearly in the batting but there have to be question marks about the current form of star man Sachin Tendulkar and they still don't seem to have decided on who should open.
Bowling-wise they went in a man light against Holland and that could be a risky policy on Saturday against Australia. If they are to get any joy it's likely to come courtesy of spinners Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Both have decent records against the Aussies with Harbhajan in particular making his mark on the world stage when he took an incredible 32 wickets in the three-match series in 2000/1 to lead India to victory.
However he hasn't posed that sort of threat to them in the one-day game (seven wickets in eight matches) so I probably shouldn't get too carried away.
As far as the match stats between the two countries are concerned there is a glimmer of hope for India as they've won three of the last six games against the Aussies.
They also have identical records at Centurion with two wins each from their three games there.
However I couldn't possibly recommend anything other than an Australian win based on the evidence of this tournament so far.
I am loathe to lump on at no better than 4/11 but can't resist a wager on Sporting Odds' handicap market which asks the Aussies to win by more than 3.5 wickets or 40.5 runs.
Australia's last six wins against India have been by four wickets, 93 runs, eight wickets, four wickets, 152 runs and five wickets so that looks the obvious call.
Indeed it appears the best bet on the match given that the top batsman markets should surely be avoided given the strength in depth of both top orders - Australia have Hayden, Gilchrist and Ponting while India feature Tendulkar, Sehwag and Dravid.
Match verdict: Australia can win decisively in a game where the batsmen are likely to dominate.
Pool B: Kenya v Canada (Cape Town 1230GMT)
Canada caused the shock of the World Cup so far by beating Bangledesh and they are on offer at similar odds here (7/1) to make it two wins out of two.
Bangladesh's limitations were cruelly exposed again by Sri Lanka on Friday and there's surely little doubt now that Kenya - despite not having Test match status - are marginally stronger.
They were no match for hosts South Africa though as they were thrashed by ten wickets but they never really got going in that match after a comical run-out in the first over.
Coach Sandeep Patil was livid at that performance and promised an improvement against Canada, saying: "That was not the Kenya team we are used to.
"Cricket is the thing we do for a living, and there can be no excuse for not getting the most basic things about the game right all the time."
Batting-wise, the Kenyans depend heavily on skipper Steve Tikolo who averages a respectable 30.
He failed against South Africa but there was plenty to like about the composed 60 from Ravindu Shah and that pair dominate the top batsman lists - though Shah is on offer at a stand-out 9/2 with bet365 and looks the better bet.
He opens the innings whereas Tikolo comes in at four and there wasn't any fluke about his knock against the Proteas (he's scored 70 against India in the past and averages over 25).
You could give Canada a chance of another upset, especially if man of the match Austin Codrington can again put the ball in the right place.
The Jamaica-born medium-pacer took five wickets but there's the nagging feeling in my mind that Bangladesh could prove to be the poorest side on show at this World Cup.
Their batting has been inept so far and it might be dangerous to read too much into Canada's victory over them.
2 pts AUSTRALIA to win on handicap ( 3.5 wickets or 40 runs ) @ 10/11
TOP KENYAN BATSMAN
1 pt TIKOLO @ 3/1
1 pt SHAH @ 9/2
TOP CANADIAN BATSMAN
1/2 pt BILLCLIFF @ 4/1
1/2 pt CHUMNEY @ 11/2
I have remained quiet through the first week of the tournament, reason being, to see how the minows go about building their innings, and the attitude adopted by the better sides.
I now feel I have some reasonable bets for tomorrow Saturday. I have posted the start time of each game (UK time) so those overseas can adjust to their own time zone.
Pool A: Australia v India (Centurion 0800GMT)
You couldn't be anything other than hugely impressed by Australia's performance in their opening game against Pakistan. If they were ever going to be vulnerable it was that day, with Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann missing in the middle order.
And when Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reduced them to 86 for four I thought we were about to witness a minor shock - especially as they still seemed in shock after Shane Warne's exit from the tournament.
But the Aussies showed just why they are the best side in the world as Andrew Symonds, just when his country needed him most, played the innings of his life as he blasted an unbeaten 143 to help them to an imposing 310 for eight.
Pakistan were then bowled out for just 228 with all the bowlers among the wickets and suddenly the Aussies appeared unbeatable again.
That innings must have given Symonds and the whole side a massive confidence boost given that it came against arguably the best attack in the competition - bar Australia, of course.
They should find it altogether easier going against India who looked awful in their opening game with Holland.
The batsman never got to grips with a gentle Dutch attack and limped to 204 all out, a miserable effort against such weak opposition.
Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble did then take four wickets apiece as Holland were bowled out for 136 but it was hardly a performance that suggested the Indians are going to be a match for Australia.
Their strength is clearly in the batting but there have to be question marks about the current form of star man Sachin Tendulkar and they still don't seem to have decided on who should open.
Bowling-wise they went in a man light against Holland and that could be a risky policy on Saturday against Australia. If they are to get any joy it's likely to come courtesy of spinners Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Both have decent records against the Aussies with Harbhajan in particular making his mark on the world stage when he took an incredible 32 wickets in the three-match series in 2000/1 to lead India to victory.
However he hasn't posed that sort of threat to them in the one-day game (seven wickets in eight matches) so I probably shouldn't get too carried away.
As far as the match stats between the two countries are concerned there is a glimmer of hope for India as they've won three of the last six games against the Aussies.
They also have identical records at Centurion with two wins each from their three games there.
However I couldn't possibly recommend anything other than an Australian win based on the evidence of this tournament so far.
I am loathe to lump on at no better than 4/11 but can't resist a wager on Sporting Odds' handicap market which asks the Aussies to win by more than 3.5 wickets or 40.5 runs.
Australia's last six wins against India have been by four wickets, 93 runs, eight wickets, four wickets, 152 runs and five wickets so that looks the obvious call.
Indeed it appears the best bet on the match given that the top batsman markets should surely be avoided given the strength in depth of both top orders - Australia have Hayden, Gilchrist and Ponting while India feature Tendulkar, Sehwag and Dravid.
Match verdict: Australia can win decisively in a game where the batsmen are likely to dominate.
Pool B: Kenya v Canada (Cape Town 1230GMT)
Canada caused the shock of the World Cup so far by beating Bangledesh and they are on offer at similar odds here (7/1) to make it two wins out of two.
Bangladesh's limitations were cruelly exposed again by Sri Lanka on Friday and there's surely little doubt now that Kenya - despite not having Test match status - are marginally stronger.
They were no match for hosts South Africa though as they were thrashed by ten wickets but they never really got going in that match after a comical run-out in the first over.
Coach Sandeep Patil was livid at that performance and promised an improvement against Canada, saying: "That was not the Kenya team we are used to.
"Cricket is the thing we do for a living, and there can be no excuse for not getting the most basic things about the game right all the time."
Batting-wise, the Kenyans depend heavily on skipper Steve Tikolo who averages a respectable 30.
He failed against South Africa but there was plenty to like about the composed 60 from Ravindu Shah and that pair dominate the top batsman lists - though Shah is on offer at a stand-out 9/2 with bet365 and looks the better bet.
He opens the innings whereas Tikolo comes in at four and there wasn't any fluke about his knock against the Proteas (he's scored 70 against India in the past and averages over 25).
You could give Canada a chance of another upset, especially if man of the match Austin Codrington can again put the ball in the right place.
The Jamaica-born medium-pacer took five wickets but there's the nagging feeling in my mind that Bangladesh could prove to be the poorest side on show at this World Cup.
Their batting has been inept so far and it might be dangerous to read too much into Canada's victory over them.
2 pts AUSTRALIA to win on handicap ( 3.5 wickets or 40 runs ) @ 10/11
TOP KENYAN BATSMAN
1 pt TIKOLO @ 3/1
1 pt SHAH @ 9/2
TOP CANADIAN BATSMAN
1/2 pt BILLCLIFF @ 4/1
1/2 pt CHUMNEY @ 11/2
