Opening Weekend of Super 8s Action: New Zealand Vs Pakistan, England Vs Sri Lanka and India Vs South Africa

New Zealand to Beat Pakistan 2Pts @7/10
Back Saim Ayub to be Top Pakistan Bowler 0.5 Pt @5/1
Back England for Highest Opening Partnership 1.5 Pts @8/11
Back Dushan Hemantha to be Sri Lanka Top Bowler 1 Pt @7/2
Back India to win sixes match bet 2Pts @8/11
Back Varun Chakravarathy to be Top India Bowler 2Pts Boosted @13/5

(*Odds accurate at time of publishing)

Group stage done and dusted

After two weeks or so of what’s been thoroughly enjoyable cricket out in India and Sri Lanka
we now head into the real crux of the 2026 T20 World Cup. In all Honesty the Group phase
played out how many predicted with the glaring omission of Australia in the Super 8s. I was
correct in my assessment that Australia were false favourites to win the group and they duly
obliged however the overperformance of Zimbabwe meant they pipped my tip Sri Lanka in
winning the group. India, similar to England, had a few wobbles against the associates but
there is a stark difference in numbers , India’s Net run rate is at +2.5 where England’s efforts
are highlighted at +0.2 , however both of my outright interests are in touching distance of a
Semi Final now as the tournament heats up.

Other mentions of note, are of course the Windies who have smashed 36 sixes and have
steam rolled every side and Afghanistan despite not making it through are worth a shout
given their performance in the game of the World Cup so far against South Africa with not
one but two Super Overs!

Kiwis to Down limp Pakistan

Approaching their 5th Game in a row at Colombo and 2nd at the RPS Ground one would
expect this Pakistan side to be acclimatised to conditions here in Sri Lanka but I’m expecting
quite the opposite here in the Group 2 opener. The RPS favours sides batting 2nd strongly
with 69% of those doing so in T20 cricket going onto win. Given the chasing NZ have been
doing this tournament (3/3) I really fancy them here to get the job done with the likes of
Seifert, Allen and Phillips all with 100+ group stage runs. The @7/10 with BetWright I think
is a safe wager here. Tim Seifert @3/1 for Top Kiwi bat looks cracking value against an
attack he favours too, an average of 62.55 in the Home series against Pakistan and then
solid effort averaging 30 away, he’s flying this tournament too.
In terms of Pakistan, I can’t seem to look past that damming defeat to India in the Big one a
few games ago. They have genuine quality up top with the bat with arguably one of the most

underrated T20 Players in Farhan and then the consistency of Agha. Despite this I think their
seriously lacking with the ball with the unorthodox Tariq leading the way with 8 Poles in the
groups but then the next best is the part timer in Saim Ayub, he’d be worth a look in the Top
bowler market for Pakistan and the @5/1 does look big considering how well he bowled here
against India (3-25).

Home from home for England

Onto Sunday and England return to Sri Lanka at a ground where they are 3 from 3 in just the
last month or so. There has been a great deal of conjecture how Lankan conditions will suit
this bowling attack and I’d have to agree. Dawson and Rashid no doubt are better suited
here with genuine turn on offer. Conversely a big focus here for me is the struggles of the Sri
Lankan seamers in their last two outings. Australia despite losing put on 104 for the 1st
wicket and Zimbabwe put on 68 fairly comfortably and I fear for Theekshana and his fast
bowling pals. Of course Nissanka is a complete class act and is very much now an all format
player but I fancy England to get off to a flyer here with both Buttler and Salt making starts in
the series last month. England are rightly priced @8/11 for Highest opening partnership
with BetWright.
Despite playing just 6 IT20s for Sri Lanka, Dushan Hemantha has deputised for Hasaranga
excellently and his limited exposure actually adds upside @7/2 to be Top Sri Lanka Bowler.
England has very minimal data on him given he didn’t play in the recent series and in the last
couple of editions of the Lanka Premier League he has been a proven wicket-taker, posting
a 14.6 strike rate across 17 games. I think he will have the upper hand against the likes of
Banton and Brook.

First Blockbuster of the Tournament

Both sides head into this one with 100% records from the Group Stage and is arguably for
India their first real test of this World cup against what many believe is the closest thing to a
threat in defending their crown. If we are to see a repeat of the 2024 final, then this opener
in Group 1 may give us a real understanding of how competitive the Proteas can be deep
into this World cup. 3 Group games here for SA has prompted some to believe @9/5 is
value with Betwright however I point you in the direction of the meeting here pre Christmas
where India smashed 231 first up. Coming into the World cup India were averaging a 6 every
10.99 balls and that firepower has got their top order out of trouble thus far. Having had
several huge 200+ scores against this attack over the last 2 years in T20I cricket I can see
India overpowering SA here and win the Sixes match bet @8/11.

Chakravarathy to Stand Out

BetWright have boosted a player I highlighted extensively pre tournament in Chakravarathy
who’s been outstanding with 9 wickets including 3-14 at this venue against the Netherlands.
He has dominated in the middle overs and has a track record against South Africa. He went
and averaged 11.5 on tour there with 12 wickets in 4 games and is well primed match up
wise against the likes of Rickleton, Brevis and Miller. The Boosted @13/5 here could be my
NAP of the weekend in what should be a very insightful start to the Super 8s.