Cricket betting tips: Opening runs set to flow with Roy back in a rhythm
PERFORMING under pressure is not necessarily something you’d associate with any England side, in any sport.
Yet Eoin Morgan’s men proved their mettle in Sunday’s win over India.
Even after posting an imposing 337-7 from their 50 overs, things got a little tense at Edgbaston as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli extended their partnership beyond 100.
Lesser England one-day sides may have crumbled.
After all, they’ve snatched defeat from the jaws of victory previously in these tournaments.
You only need to think back three years to Carlos Braithwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the T20 World Cup final for the West Indies or to Kevin O’Brien’s breath-taking innings for Ireland in the 2011 World Cup to understand England’s tendency to capitulate.
As we’ve all been insisting for three years though, this is a different England team.
This England team has shown they can embrace pressure.
Against Australia and Sri Lanka they looked constrained by the pressure situation of a crucial World Cup game, but at Edgbaston, it felt as if they had broken free of those shackles.
No individual embodies the spirit of this team more than Jason Roy.
The opener made his return in Sunday’s game after missing the previous three with a hamstring injury and made a confidence-boosting 66.
He’s now passed fifty in seven of his last 10 England innings and I wouldn’t discount him doing so again.
Sporting Index’s performance market offers one point per run, 10 points per catch and 20 points per wicket and even though Roy’s spread of 49-54 might be a little inflated, buying at 54 could still provide some value if he can get involved in the field.
Roy again provided the platform and freedom for his partner Jonny Bairstow to go on and make a hundred and remind everyone of his importance to this side in the process.
He made some brave comments during the week in the build-up to the India game, but followed them up in the best way possible.
The value of England’s opening partnership cannot be understated.
In games England win, they put on an average of more than 70 for the first wicket and with both boasting career strike rates above 100 they score them quickly.
Sporting Index are offering a spread of 48-53 on the fall of England’s first wicket and with the form these two have shown, I’d be very tempted to buy at 53.
Ben Stokes’ return to batting form will also be reassuring for England’s middle order given Jos Buttler’s inconsistency and Morgan looking a little spooked by the short ball.
Stokes has scored fifties in each of his last three innings and given his tendency to be involved in the field and with the ball, buying his performance index at 60 could be another that provides surprising value.
Given that England have only won once when chasing in this tournament and that only Bangladesh have successfully chased more than 250, winning the toss will be important.
If England win the toss and bat first, I fancy them to handle the pressure comfortably and post another impressive total.
If they lose the toss, it’s all about restricting New Zealand and chasing a score less than 300.
Buying England’s 100-50-0 Index at 71 looks the way to go for this one, with victory for Morgan’s men winning you 29 times your stake.
POINTERS
Buy Jason Roy Performance Index
54 Sporting Index
Buy Fall of England First Wicket
53 Sporting Index
Buy England 100-50-0 Index
71 Sporting Index