T20 World Cup Final Tips: Runs galore in Ahmedabad but Bumrah the difference?
And just like that, it is the final of the T20 World Cup.
Twenty teams have been whittled down to just two with India taking on New Zealand in Ahmedabad for the chance of World Cup glory.
Home advantage is with India – and they are the defending champions – but New Zealand are no mugs having seen off the previously unbeaten South Africa in the semi-final.
India’s pulsating, huge-hitting semi against England went all the way to the wire and a cracker should be in store here again for the showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Here, we look at the markets and pick out three of the best selections for the T20 World Cup final…
Tip 1 – Finn Allen over 26.5 runs @ Evens
Only two batsmen have scored more runs in the T20 World Cup than New Zealand opener Finn Allen.
His magnificent unbeaten 100 against South Africa helped see the Kiwis through to the final and, alongside Tim Seifert at the top of the order, is a big reason they have gone so far in the tournament.
In 60 T20I innings he has 1,654 runs to his name – and the century in the semi-final was his third in the format.
New Zealand will need Allen and Seifert to get them off to a strong start once more against the favourites. Allen has done it before, scoring 80 against India in a T20I in January.
We’re looking at the Evens for him to score over 26.5 runs here.
Allen has only failed to reach double figures once, back in their first game of the tournament, and has surpassed that run line four times in seven innings.
Scores of 23 and 29 in addition to that showcase how consistent a player he is.
It is always difficult against the ferocious Indian attack, particularly on home soil but Allen can get his side off to a flyer again.
Tip 2 – Jasprit Bumrah to take most wickets for India @ 5/2
So often the difference maker, Jasprit Bumrah can strike fear into any batting lineup.
Regarded as possibly the best current all-format pace bowler, he could be the one to bring glory to India on their home turf.
He has 10 wickets so far in the competition, including a wonderful three for 15 in defeat against South Africa in the Super 8s.
He may have taken just one wicket against England in the semis but the crucial wicket of Harry Brook was Bumrah’s 500th in international cricket – and he broke Glenn McGrath’s economy record in the process.
No one among bowlers with 500 international wickets to their name has a better average than his 20.62.
India may well be looking to him for crucial eikets here in a game that may well not see all wickets fall – New Zealand are yet to be bowled out in the tournament.
Bumrah will be ably supported in attack by the joint-highest wicket taker so far, spinner Varun Chakravarthy, and will no doubt add to his 117 T20I wickets.
It’s an appealing 5/2 for the 32-year-old to take the most wickets for India – a price it is virtually impossible to ignore for such a game-changing bowler.
Tip 3 – Tim Seifert to hit a six @ 4/6
We’ve already mentioned the danger the New Zealand openers can possess and India will need to be on their guard for some huge hitting.
Allen and Seifert have hit a whopping 31 sixes between them so far as they do their best to fire their country to the title.
They hit 10 between them just in their semi-final with South Africa and, while the Indian bowling line-up is a different prospect with a pitch possibly to suit them, more power hitting will be in store.
Seifert has hit 105 T20I maximums in just 83 innings – well over one per game.
Looking at that, the 4/6 for him to hit a six in the final is standing out.
His 11 sixes so far in the tournament have come in just seven innings. With supreme confidence and form, we can’t look past Seifert adding at least one more to his tally here
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
