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Can Pakistan Cause Another Upset?

Mohammed Amir

The Group Stage of the 2019 World Cup is nearing its conclusion, and a clear top four has emerged, with England, India, Australia and New Zealand asserting their dominance.

So, time is running out for the other teams on the fringes to earn their place in the semi-finals by breaking up that top four. For some it is already too late. Afghanistan, West Indies and South Africa cannot now qualify, but Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan all have a chance.

For Pakistan, who pulled off a surprise tournament win on English soil the last time they entered a fifty over tournament, at the 2017 Champions Trophy, there are three games remaining in this year’s World Cup. And if they are to progress, they need to win all three, while hoping that other results go their way. It’s a tall order, particularly given that their next opponents are New Zealand.

The Black Caps were rated behind England and India in the betting ahead of this tournament, but they have taken advantage of a relatively straightforward early schedule, racking up wins against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and South Africa, and they also had the bonus of taking a point from what would have been their toughest game so far, when their tie with India was washed out.

The momentum from that run carried them through a tricky tie against a talented but inconsistent West Indies side, and they go into Wednesday’s game against Pakistan with an unbeaten record and one foot in the semi-finals. They’ve got this far thanks to a deep batting line up, that boasts the class and experience of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, supported by an array of big-hitting all-rounders, and a battery of seam bowlers who have been relishing English conditions.

By contrast, Pakistan have struggled to find any sort of form so far in the tournament, their underpowered batting line-up offering little help to their bowlers, which explains why they have just two wins from their six games so far.

It’s not surprising then to find that BetCris make New Zealand the clear favourites to win this game. They are rated as a -166 chance while Pakistan are considered a +166 bet. But is it possible that the bookmakers are underrating Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side?

There is no doubt that they have some talented players in their squad, particularly among the bowlers, and in Mohammed Amir, they have the tournament’s leading wicket taker. Their ability to shock the best teams in this format was underlined by their surprise victory over tournament favourites England in their second game. And they will also benefit from playing this match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, which will be packed with Pakistan supporters for what is a make or break game.

To beat these opponents, Pakistan will have to rely on a stellar performance from their bowlers, as their batsman can’t be relied upon to chase a big total, but given their record, they cannot be written off and could well spring another surprise on Wednesday.

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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 29th-30th JUNE

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Soccer – Swedish Allsvenskan – AIK vs Malmo

The first of my big betting events this weekend comes from the Swedish Allsvenskan. It’s a league which is easy to follow as it runs throughout the summer months, and I always become obsessed with it around this time of year.

These two teams are always likely to be involved in the title race, and they sit 3rd and 1st coming into this game with just six points separating the pair. AIK are in sensational form, and their home form has been a large part of their success so far.

They’ve got a 5-1 record at the Friends Arena with only Sirius and AFC Eskilstuna having found the net against them at this ground so far. Although their away form is a little more patchy, it’s difficult to see them losing too many games here.

Although they are defensively sound in front of their own fans, AIK did play out a very entertaining 3-3 draw with Malmo during their last meeting here. A repeat of that score-line would certainly keep the neutrals interested this weekend.

Uwe Rosler’s Malmo are a tough nut to crack, and they are the early season pacesetters. They’ve suffered just a single defeat so far, and that came back on April 6th. That loss to GIF Sundsvall was followed by three consecutive victories, and they will be full of confidence coming into this game.

They’ve got a 3-2-1 record on the road this season although each of their victories have come against sides sitting in the bottom five. Each of those struggling teams were dispatched by a single goal, and they will find this much tougher today.

The addition of the experienced Jonas Knudsen has added some much needed experience to the squad, and Rosler is putting together a decent outfit, who will surely go well in Europe this season.

It’s going to be a fascinating match, and it could be a hugely tactical affair. Malmo will not want to lose any ground at the top of the table, whilst AIK cannot afford to fall further behind here.

The bookies rightly have AIK as the favourites here, and that makes sense. It’s hard to see Malmo heading south with all three points, although there won’t be much between these two sides.

I can’t wait to see how this one plays out, and it’s greater to have top flight action to look forward to this weekend.

UK Viewers can enjoy all the action from the Allsvenskan via online bookmakers websites

 

UFC – Heavyweight – Francis Ngannou vs Junior Dos Santos

The UFC returns to Minneapolis for just the third time this weekend with a fascinating heavyweight match-up between Francis Ngannou and Junior Dos Santos. It is the second of our big betting events for this weeks sporting action.

There are potential title implications here as this explosive bout gets underway at the Target Center. Impressive striking is highly likely here, and both players can change the course of a fight in seconds. However, Junior Dos Santos will be aiming to get his opponent on the floor as often as possible.

As a result, Ngannou has spoken of the importance of preparing for all eventualities. Although he has cast doubt on JDS’ claim that he has a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, he knows that he has to be careful not to allow his opponent too many opportunities for a grapple.

Ngannou’s strength lies in his explosive punching power, and he believes that he is the better boxer of the pair. His recent knock-out victories suggest that these bold clubs are not unsubstantiated with eye-catching KOs against Cain Velazquez and Curtis Blaydes.

Decisions haven’t always gone his way in the best, and the limp defeat to Derrick Lewis may still be lingering in his mind. He must ensure that he doesn’t offer the judges an opportunity to run the rule over this one. Ngannou will be looking to get the better of his opponent in the early rounds, and give himself a shot at the title.

The aforementioned Derrick Lewis was defeated by Junior Dos Santos not so long ago, and a number of TKOs have decided the Brazilian’s fortunes recently. He knows that he must stay in this fight, and keep his opponent on his toes.

Ngannou’s power makes him the worthy favourite here, although this fight might not be wholly one-sided. It is a fascinating match-up, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

UK UFC fans can catch this fascinating bout on BT Sport 1 this weekend

 

Aussie Rules – AFL – Hawthorn vs West Coast

Two teams in contrasting form meet this weekend in the AFL as Hawthorn host the Eagles on Saturday. It is the third of our big betting events. 

West Coast Eagles were at their destructive best last weekend as they easily dispatched the Bombers 106-71. It left them with a 9-4 record this season, and they are comfortably inside the top four coming into this fixture. Their form on the road is not quite as impressive, and they have a 3-3 record outside of Perth, but they will see this as a winnable tie.

Last season’s match-up was extremely cagey, and there wasn’t much between the pair. West Coast were victorious, winning 75-60, and they’ll be keen to make it back-to-back successes over this opponent. It put an end to a disappointing run of form at this ground losing on each of their last three visits.

West Coast need to be better than last week. Their performance against Essendon was laboured, and their kicking performance left a lot to be desired.

Hawthorn are not in particularly good form, and three consecutive defeats have seen them drop to 12th on the ladder. They will be desperate to return to the top eight, and they need to pick up all of the points here.

They were comprehensively outkicked last weekend by the Swans (239-180), and will need better intensity levels here. They were wasteful in the third term, and they know that they will be suitably punished here if their levels drop again.

It’s going to be an interesting contest and I can’t wait to see whether West Coast can continue to climb the ladder with a victory here. Hawthorn have been sloppy in recent weeks, and they need to get back on track, but this is a tough ask.

BT Sport have highlights of every single AFL game across the course of the weekend. 

 

Soccer – MLS – New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire

My final big betting event this weekend comes from the MLS. NY Red Bulls haven’t played a competitive game since June 9th, and Chris Armas’ side will be chomping at the bit to get back to action.

They sit fifth in the Eastern Conference, and they will be keen to get back to winning ways. They were defeated away at Philadelphia Union recently, and they will be pleased to be back in Harrison. They have a 5-1-3 record in New Jersey and Chicago Fire are just one of many teams who do not travel well, so they will fancy their chances here.

Fire sit outside the play-off places, and it’s been a frustating campaign for them so far. They haven’t hit the heights of last season, and their lack of killer instinct has kept them from challenging for the end-of-season play-offs.

They could only draw 1-1 with poor travellers Real Salt Lake this weekend, and it was another underwhelming performance from Veljko Paunovic’s men.

19 points from 17 games is a very modest return for a side who have plenty of talent, and they really should be higher in the standings.

No side in the Eastern Conference has a poorer return on the road than Chicago Fire, and they are yet to win on their travels. A 0-3-5 record outside of Chicago is extremely poor and it’ll be interesting to see whether they can remain competitive in this tough encounter.

Freesports are showing this MLS game on Saturday night and it is available for all UK viewers to enjoy. 

 

See the LATEST ODDS now for the above FEATURED BETS at BOBBY’S WEEKEND BETS!

 

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Big Sporting Events: UK Snooker Championship

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The UK Snooker Championship is one the biggest events on the sporting calendar and takes places at the Barbican in York. It the second biggest ranking event in the professional game, and is currently one of the three triple crown events.

It was established in 1977, and is one of the most-watched snooker events. It typically takes place at the end of the year, and tends to begin in late-November. The event takes place over a two-week period, typically concluding in early December.

It is organised by the WPBSA, and there is a total prize fund of £850,000 available. The winner will receive £170,000 of the purse whilst the runner-up will collect around £75,000.

The prize money available for competitors at the UK Championship always results in a high-quality field. Ronnie O’Sullivan is the most successful player in this event, and he secured his seventh title in December 2018. His latest success helped him surpass Steve Davis’ total of six, whilst Stephen Hendry was triumphant on five occasions. John Higgins, Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui have also won the tournament more than once. The latter is one of the only two players from the outside of the UK to have enjoyed more than a single success at this event. Patsy Fagan was the inaugural winner of the UK Snooker Championship.

The tournament hasn’t always been held at the Barbican. It was originally staged at the Tower Circus in Blackpool with only British passport holders allowed to enter the competition. The Guild Hall in Preston also staged the event on multiple occasions with the last being in 1997. The Telford International Centre hosted the UK Snooker Championships for three years between 2007 and 2010.

It was not granted a ranking status until 1984, and the field was opened up to all professional players. Only three other tournaments now offer more ranking points than the UK Snooker Championship.

The event has produced a number of memorable moments including Alex Higgins’ sensational comeback in 1983. The Hurricane was 7-0 down at the end of the first session, but roared back to beat Steve Davis 16-15. The Stephen Hendry vs Ken Doherty final of 1994 is often fondly remembered by snooker fans as well. The 2007 final featured the longest televised frame with viewers glued to the action for 77 minutes.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s first victory in the tournament came in 1993, as he became the youngest-ever winner of the event.

A field of 128 competitors arrive in York each year hoping to reach the final of the event, but they quickly become whittled down to just two. Matches up to (and including) the semi-finals are held over the best-of-11-frames format. The final is currently a best-of-19 frames event. This has been the case since 2011.

When and Where?

The UK Snooker Championship has changed venues on a number of occasions, but it’s current residency is at the Barbican in York. It is typically held at the end of the calendar year, starting in late November, running until early-December.

Why is it so Popular?

It is a major ranking event on the snooker calendar, and a chance for fans to catch the majority of the top-ranked players in action. The best-of-11 frame format often results in competitive matches, which tend not to last several days.

It’s position in the calendar is also a bonus. There is a big enough gap between the World Snooker Championships and the UK Snooker Championships to keep anticipation high. It is also held in winter, a time when many snooker fans in the UK tend to be indoors, and therefore viewing figures are always high.

There is always plenty of drama at the UK Snooker Championship, and plenty of headlines are made at this tournament. Players such as Ronnie O’Sullivan will always attract the attention of the media, and there is plenty of focus on the Barbican during this two-week period.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

There are many betting opportunities available ahead of the UK Snooker Championships. Ante-post bets are extremely popular with snooker aficianados, whilst in-play punts are also commonplace. Many bettors prefer to simply wager match-by-match whilst accumulators are always popular during the opening couple of rounds.

Bookmakers will price up the outright market months in advance. Match betting becomes available once the draw has been made.

Key Betting Markets

Ante-Post

UK Championship Winner – This is the simplest, but also the most popular betting market ahead of the tournament. Bettors can predict which player will be victorious at the event, and they must lift the trophy in order to receive a pay-out. Each-Way betting is also available, with bookmakers paying two places on this market. This is ideal for bigger-priced outsiders.

To Reach the Final – This market is also available months in advance and requires punters to predict which player will make it all the way to the final. You will be paid out at full odds if your chosen player competes in the final at the beginning of December. This is different to the EW market (as detailed above) which will pay out at 1/2 the odds.

To Reach the Semi-Final/Quarter-Final – As above, but with players backed to reach the final four/final eight. Players such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins will typically start at odds-on prices in this market as they are expected to get to this stage. However, these markets are ideal for younger players or those big-priced competitors who aren’t expected to make it beyond the opening couple of rounds.

Will There be a 147 at the Tournament? – Punters are given the opportunity to predict whether there will be a 147-break at each tournament. With a high quality field, there is always a chance of one occuring at the UK Snooker Championship.

Match-by-Match Betting 

To Win the Match – Each match will be priced up a couple of days before it gets underway. This will enable punters to select which player they believe will be victorious, and qualify for the next round. These are 50/50 markets, and therefore odds-on prices are commonplace. Favourites are often long odds-on to make it through the opening couple of rounds, although shocks do happen at major ranking events.

Total Frames – This is a great way of betting without having to predict which of the two players will win the match. In the best-of-eleven format, these can be priced up at Under/Over 8.5 or Under/Over 7.5 Frames. This will obviously increase ahead of the final. Punters must predict whether it will be one-sided game or whether it will be nip-and-tuck and go all the way to a deciding frame.

Mini-Session Betting – Each game will be broken down in mini-sessions, often with one of these played in the morning, followed by recommencement in the afternoon. Punters can predict which player will be winning at the end of the first mini-session or whether it will be level. Typically, each mini-session will consist of around 4-6 frames.

Handicap Betting – This is ideal for matches which are seemingly one-sided. Handicap betting allows the opportunity to predict dominance, and it is particularly prominent during the early stages of the UK Snooker Championship. For example -2.5 Frames would require your chosen player to win by three clear frames in order to receive a pay-out. +2.5 Frames would suggest that the underdog will keep it close.

Correct Score Betting – Bigger prices are available on these markets. There are a numerous options when it comes to predicting the correct score, and many bettors often choose to keep their options open by backing a number of these pre-match.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for UK Snooker Championship

Handicap Markets are the Best Way to Bet in the First Round – Whilst many punters will choose to put together sizeable accumulators in the first round of games, it may be best to look at the handicap markets instead. There are 128 players entering the tournament, and therefore there are plenty of betting opportunities during the opening couple of days. Experienced players will win at a canter, so it’s always best to look for those professional competitors who simply turn up and get the job done every single year. Meanwhile, also look for players who have been slowly moving up the rankings and making a name for themselves on the circuit. They may just spring a surprise or two by giving the more experienced players a scare.

Analyse a Players Mentality Pre-tournament – This is key when betting on the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump. The former’s play is often dependent on his mood, and there are times when he can come across as laboured and disinterested. If he is playing well, and he’s spoken about looking forward to the tournament, that is a good sign. However, if has been away filming TV shows or spouting off about his disdain of the event, it might be best to avoid putting too much faith in him.

Plot a Players Path to the Final – Although it is sometimes possible to get extra value by backing a player to win the tournament earlier in the year, it can often be advised to wait until the drawn is made. Players can sometimes be given a relatively straightforward path to the final two, and this is the ideal situation. Once the draw has been made, it is possible to predict who they will play in each round (based on the assumption that the other player will progress), and this can make things a little easier. If a player is set to avoid fellow top seeds or any of the big-hitters, it could be worth backing them to reach the final.

The BBC and Eurosport will be broadcasting the UK Snooker Championship once again this year in the UK. 

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Best Bets of the Day – Sunday, June 23rd 2019

Mercedes

Pakistan v South Africa
Cricket World Cup 2019 – 10.30 am
Sky Sports

Pakistan’s World Cup is petering out pretty quickly now. They just have not been able to build upon that big success of beating hosts England in their second tournament fixture. They had their next game against Sri Lanka washed out and on their return, and then were toppled by Australia by 41 runs. Then came their big match against rivals India. Pakistan were never in the match. They are 11/10 underdogs with leading bookmakers to win this, what appears to be a really even match up.

The positive is, is that Pakistan have gotten the bulk of their toughest games out of the way. They step out against South Africa in this one, who have been equally as disappointing at the tournament. Then after facing New Zealand, Pakistan will close out with easier games against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Still though, with just three points, a top-four finish looks unlikely to happen. That’s true for both of them.

South Africa started their tournament with a defeat against hosts England and really struggled to get going from there. Their only bright moment came in their fourth game when they beat outsiders Afghanistan, a match that the Proteas were also odds-on favourites to win, no matter how poor their form was. But they could not handle the pressure in their following fixture against New Zealand, tumbling to another defeat. South Africa are 8/11 to collect the match victory in this one against the unpredictable Pakistan.

Colombia v Paraguay
Copa America 2019 – 8.00 pm
Premier Sports

The Colombians are sailing towards the knockout stage of the Copa America. After sinking Argentina 2-0 in their opening game, they left it late to come up with a winner against Qatar in their second group fixture. Actually, all three of Colombia’s goals in this summer’s tournament have been scored after the 70th minute. Atalanta striker David Zapata has scored an 86th-minute goal in both fixtures.

So Los Cafeteros are looking in good shape and the top bookmakers have them at 8/11 to make it three wins from three in the group, by taking down Paraguay. It is a four-match winning streak that Colombia are currently on at the moment and they have conceded a single goal in that streak of form.

Paraguay started the Copa America with just one win under their belt since 2017 and that was in a friendly against Guatemala. They opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Qatar after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the game. But Paraguay did win the last time that they met Colombia, which was back in World Cup 2019 qualifying, taking a 2-1 win in Bogota. They had lost their five previous games on the bounce against the Colombians though. They are 9/2 with top bookies to come up with another victory over them.

French Grand Prix
Formula 1 – 2.00 pm
Sky Sports

Will the Lewis Hamilton 2019 F1 season procession continue this weekend in France? Hamilton took a win at the Canadian Grand Prix last time out. He was trailing Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, but under pressure from Hamilton, the German went off the track and re-entered in an unsafe manner. That’s according to the race officials who handed Vettel a five-second penalty. So while the Ferrari was home first on the track, Hamilton was close enough to actually win the race.

Hamilton has now won the last three races and it continued the streak of Mercedes having won all races for the season. Hamilton heads into the weekend 29 points clear at the top of the Driver’s Championship ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas. With the racetrack in France this weekend not particularly suited to the Ferrari (which they have admitted themselves) it could be another big weekend for Mercedes.

Hamilton is the 8/11 odds-on favourite with top bookmakers to win with Bottas second favourite at 11/4. Last year’s edition was won by Hamilton, giving him his first win at the track. The French Grand Prix was not used from 2009 onward until it returned last year. Hamilton took the win by a massive seven-second margin over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, having gone from the front of the grid.

Follow the latest live bets to keep up with all of the latest action going on during this busy Sunday and beyond!

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Best Bets of the Day – Saturday, June 22nd 2019

Sam Kerr

Norway Women v Australia Women
Women’s World Cup 2019 – 8.00 pm
BBC

This is the opening match of the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup 2019. It should be a fascinating showdown as well, between the organised Norwegians and the explosive Matildas. It has been some journey from Australia in the tournament so far. They suffered a shock 2-1 reverse against Italy in their opening game. At 2-0 down in the first half of their second game against Brazil, Australia looked to be heading out.

But then a fightback against Brazil saw Australia take a stunning 3-2 success in that match. Then it was the Sam Kerr show as the young striker fired off four goals in a 4-1 success over Jamaica. So they have some hot momentum going forward now. With their star player Kerr bang in form (five goals in three games), the Matildas are trading as 13/10 odds-on favourites with leading bookmakers to reach the quarter finals.

Backing Kerr to get on the scoresheet again will probably be one of the best bets of the day for punters. Norway finished second in their group behind host nation France, beating Nigeria and South Korea, but falling (perhaps a little controversially) against the French. The Norwegians have won three of their last five games and they will be facing an Australian defence which doesn’t look the most convincing. But will the 9/5 underdogs have enough to outscore the Matildas?

West Indies v New Zealand
Cricket World Cup – 1.30 pm
Sky Sports

It has been spectacularly entertaining stuff from the West Indies at the World Cup so far. Not all of it for the right reasons though. They came flying out of the blocks with a win by seven wickets over Pakistan but their tournament really turned when they failed to capitalise on a couple of strong positions against Australia in their second match. With their next match against South Africa washed out, they were then hammered by England.

Then came their biggest collapse as they allowed Bangladesh to complete the second-highest successful run chase in World Cup history against them. Their opponents knocked off their 322 target with 8.3 overs to spare and the Windies lost by seven wickets. In patches they’ve looked brilliant and explosive with bat and ball, and other times just comically off point.

They get a tough game here against the composed New Zealanders who are well in contention for a top four finish in the group to advance to the semi’s. The Kiwis always seem to be a dab hand when it comes to tournament play and are unbeaten in five tournament matches in this campaign, winning four. They beat South Africa in a tense match on Wednesday, Kane Williamson seeing them home. The Kiwis are the 4/6 odds-on favourites with leading bookmakers to win this one.

Peru v Brazil
Copa America 2019 – 8.00 pm
Premier Sports

The Brazilians, who are the hosts of the tournament, have come in for some stick by their own fans. They were booed off at half time in their opener as they were only 0-0 against outsiders Bolivia. The Selecao won 3-0 in the end, thanks to a helping hand of a brace from Philipe Coutinho. But then they had two goals disallowed through VAR against Venezuela and ended up drawing 0-0. That didn’t go down well at all in Salvador.

They are at least assured of third place in the group. That is a worst-case scenario. The two best third-placed teams from the group stage move through to the quarters along with group winners. Will Brazil be able to finish with a bang and beat Peru, who are right there level on four points with them? You can imagine the reaction by the home support if Brazil get beaten to the group win by the Peruvians. So the tension is on Brazil now but that has not stopped the top bookies making them 1/3 odds-on favourites.

The Peruvians opened with a 0-0 draw against Venezuela and then produced a 3-1 win over Bolivia. So it’s all pretty even then, with Brazil just topping them in the group on goal difference. Venezuela will be heading to the next round regardless of what happens in this one. Peru has scored in just one of their last three games and have won just three of their previous 26 games against Brazil (D6 L17). However at the 2016 Copa America, Peru shocked the Selecao by beating them 1-0. A Peru – Draw Double Chance is at 12/5 with leading bookies.

Bolivia v Venezuela
Copa America – 8.00 pm
Premier Sports

This is a big game for Venezuela as they have a shot at landing a top two finish. This is the same group as Peru and Brazil, from the game above. So if there is a loser in that game, then they would be jumped ahead of by Venezuela. If of course, Venezuela beat Bolivia, which they will be expected to do, at least by the bookies who have them as the 8/15 odds-on favourites for success.

Venezuela have collected just two points in the group so far after they failed to get the better of Peru in their opening game. That ended in a 0-0 draw. So did their second match against the tournament hosts Brazil. Venezuela had a couple of let offs in the game as Brazil were denied two goals through VAR. So that point for Venezuela in that one will have been a big bonus.

The threat of Bolivia has, by and large, been non existent in this group. They were thumped 3-0 by Brazil and then 3-1 by Peru. So they are already out of the qualification picture and nothing to play for. So there’s a chance that they will just rotate their starting eleven and give other members of the squad a chance. That could just lend further favouritism to Venezuela. The Bolivians, who are on a big losing streak, scoring just one goal in their last five played, are 11/2 underdogs.

Check out the best promotions and offers available by the best bookmakers for your big betting, right here.

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Best Bets of the Day – Friday, June 21st 2019

England cricket

England v Sri Lanka
Cricket World Cup – 10.30 am
Sky Sports

England captain Eoin Morgan put on a spectacular show of batting as England crushed Bangladesh at the World Cup in midweek. With the hosts batting first in the match, Morgan stepped to the crease and smashed 148 off just 71 balls. In doing so, he set a new record of 17 sixes on an ODI. Morgan is 6/1 with leading bookmakers to be England’s top batsman in this fixture. After his massive total in midweek, that will appeal to punters as one of the best bets of the day.

The game on Friday against Sri Lanka will be England’s last match in the group that will be deemed to be an “easier” one. Following this, they have a tough run of games against India, New Zealand and Australia. All of those are in contention for a top-four finish alongside the English. So when it comes to that England will be looking to continue some hot momentum. Since their loss against Pakistan, it has been three straight easy wins for England, the victories coming against Bangladesh, West Indies and Afghanistan.

The performances so far from Sri Lanka have been a bit hit and miss in the tournament. They have been hampered though with having had two of their five scheduled matches rained off. They were in action last weekend when they suffered a collapse in their run chase against Australia, despite having positioned themselves well at one point. England and Sri Lanka met for an ODI series in October last year with England taking a 3-1 series win. Sri Lanka are big 7/1 underdogs for the win.

England U21 v Romania U21
UEFA Euro U21 Championships – 5.00 pm
Sky Sports

England’s young Lions are in a spot of bother right at the start of the Euro U21 Championships. They basically threw away a strong position in their opening match against France. England shipped two goals from the 89th minute onward to suffer a 2-1 defeat. It was an own goal from Aaron Wan-Bissaka in stoppage time that sunk England. So that was such a good position wasted against their strongest group opponents. It leaves the Lions on the back foot in terms of qualification. Only the group winners automatically reach the semi-finals.

The one best runner up from the three groups will join the three group winners in the final four. So the pressure is on England U21. They realistically have to beat both Romania and then Serbia in their two final group stage matches to try and make progress. England were losing semi-finalists two years ago, getting knocked out via a penalty shootout against Germany. So can England respond? The leading bookmakers have them as 1/2 odds-on favourites to win this fixture. But it doesn’t look that easy.

England U21 are winless in three games played (D1 L2) and they haven’t taken a clean sheet in five. Romania have won four of their last five games and they opened their group stage campaign in style. They produced a big 4-1 win over Croatia, their opponents having been reduced to ten men. For a team who went undefeated through qualification and who have scored at least two goals in four of their last five games, the underdogs are a threat. The Romanians would be happy with a point most likely, out of this. It would at least keep England off their backs. Romania are 11/2 underdogs with leading bookies for the match outright win.

France U21 v Croatia U21
UEFA Euro U21 Championships – 7.55 pm
Sky Sports

France are in the driving seat in this Euro U21 group. They battled back to win from being a goal down with just two minutes left on the clock in their opener against England. After pulling one back in the 89th minute, they benefited from an England own goal two minutes into time added on. To be fair, France were the better team throughout. But they did take a long time to get their rewards after England had been reduced to ten men in the second half.

Now there will be easier games to come from France in the group, starting with this one, probably the easiest. Croatia have never won a match at the Euro U21 Championships. They hold a W0 D2 L5 record from their previous games. This will be their first ever meeting with France in a competitive match at this level. Croatia have ended a 15-year wait to get back to the Finals. They are 7/1 underdogs for this fixture after that heavy beating in their opener.

Croatia did end their qualification campaign with four straight wins, all of those coming with a clean sheet. But that is six goals that they have conceded in their last two games played. France are unbeaten in their last five fixtures at this level (W3 D2). With their toughest game out of the way, they will take full control of the race for the top spot with three points in this one. The bookmakers are expecting a comfortable time for France as Les Bleus are 13/10 to nil.

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There’s something in the water at SW19…

thiem wimbledon

It’s nearly that time again. Grass court season is upon us as we count down the days until the start of this season’s Wimbledon championships. With Andy Murray seemingly out of contention due to a career-ending injury, it’s down to the chasing pack to make their mark on the mens tournament that has been dominated by the “top four” since 2002. It’s incredible to think. In the previous 16 editions of the tournament, only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have held aloft the gold trophy.

This year feels like the most likely that we will witness a member of the “new breed” breaking through into contention. The likes of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem have all made a name for themselves on the ATP Tour in recent seasons, but are still awaiting the leap into Grand Slam waters; Thiem has been the closest to achieving this goal, in reaching two French Open finals.

Grass court is a different proposition to most players. It’s a short season on the circuit, with limited practice and events for all players to adapt their games to the demands that come with it. Along with the different tactics that need to be deployed during the grass court season, beating two of either Federer, Nadal or Djokovic is usually necessary to scoop a trophy. All three have dominated this surface in previous years, with Federer’s name becoming synonymous with the Wimbledon Championships.

20-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas could be the man to come closest to breaking the hoodoo of the Wimbledon championships. With two titles already this season, Tsitsipas became the first Greek to reach the fourth round of the tournament in the Open era last season – a feat not to be underestimated at his young age.

His ambitions are clear on the circuit, with a fearlessness crucial to upsetting the applecart on the biggest of stages. His service game is well suited to the grass with a variety of attacks coming from the baseline; the youngster has also shown his proficiencies at the net, with a nimbleness on court crucial on the testing surface.

Priced at 19/1 to win the tournament, it may be one or two seasons too early for the 20-year-old, however, finding a market closer to the start of the championship to see him reach the semi-finals is sure to deliver value.

Splitting the big three to find the 2019 winner is the biggest test. Djokovic heads up the market at 8/5 to win his fifth Wimbledon crown, but with Nadal fresh off the back of another French Open win, 91/20 is tempting when looking at the Catalan. The draw is likely to pit Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw, so a meeting in the semi-finals is a distinct possibility. This gives Novak the edge in a clearer route to the final, although the Serbian will have to be wary of tripping over the group of wannabees that will be swiping at his heels.

Djokovic has reached the final in his last two tournaments, winning once against Tsitsipas and losing once to Nadal. He’s arguably the form player on the tour at the moment, and with a love for the Wimbledon grass, a 8/5 shot is great value for another Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon @ 8/5 (MarathonBet)
Stefanos Tsitsipas to win Wimbledon @ 19/1 (MarathonBet)
Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the semi-finals @ TBC