T20 World Cup Semi-Final Tips: Back England to make another final
It’s the last four of the T20 World Cup and England, India, South Africa and New Zealand are set to battle it out for a place in Sunday’s showdown in Ahmedabad.
Two pulsating last-four ties are on the cards, with defending champions fighting alongside former winners and sides yet to lift the trophy.
England will be looking to add a third success to their tally but 2024 winners India stand in their way. New Zealand take on South Africa, who have never won it.
Here, we look at the markets and pick out three of the best selections for the T20 World Cup semi-finals…
Tip 1 – Harry Brook over 24.5 runs vs India @ Evens
England’s captain needed this tournament to be a success and, so far, it has been.
His magnificent 100 against Pakistan the undoubted highlight, the 27-year-old has led from the front.
After a half-century against Nepal, Brook would have been disappointed with totals of four, 14 and 14 against Italy, Scotland and Sri Lanka – but he is returning to form at the right time.
The century in Pallekele was sublime, the skipper scored well over half of the team’s runs and only two other English batsmen made double figures.
How England would love him to replicate that against India.
Doing that will no doubt be very difficult – after all, it was his first ever T20I century – but Evens for Brook to score over 24.5 runs is a smart play nonetheless.
He has surpassed that tally three times in the tournament but, perhaps importantly, in both of his last two matches.
Moved up the order to three recently, he may well be crucial once again to the Lions’ chances of making yet another T20 World Cup final.
Tip 2 – South Africa to beat New Zealand & England to beat India @ 3/1
South Africa are on fire.
A 100% record so far leaves many tipping them as the champions-elect and the dismantling of India in the Super 8 only added fuel to that fire.
In Lungi Ndidi they have a bowler with 12 wickets to his name – only two bowlers have taken more and Aiden Markram sits third in the runs scored table.
They face New Zealand in their semi-final having already beaten the Kiwis in the group stage. Markram scored an unbeaten 86 off just 44 balls in the seven-wicket win and will fancy his chances again.
New Zealand lost to England in the Super 8 and, though they saw off co-hosts Sri Lanka, the no-result against Pakistan certainly helped their qualification.
South Africa have never won the T20 World Cup but the 2024 runners-up are capable of taking a giant step towards glory here.
They will either face India in a repeat of that 2024 final or two-time winners England.
Brook’s men will fancy another final – and we do too.
England have history in this competiton and they have history against India in the last four, too. Cast your mind back to 2022’s memorable 10-wicket win – can they replicate that?
Probably not, or at least not to that extent. India are at home – and the raucous crowd will do their best to carry them home – but they have already lost to South Africa while making just 111.
It will be tough for England as effectively the away side but they often thrive in such adversity.
They may not have been at their fluent best, and the likes of Jos Buttler have struggled for runs, but they will fight and scrap for all they can get.
Players like Brook, Phil Salt and Will Jacks have been vital and continue to be so. Their fielding must be tightened up and their bowling more efficient.
Do that and the explosive batting could well do the rest.
Tip 3 – Jos Buttler to hit a six @ 4/5
Opener Buttler is struggling for form at the top of the innings but can be a man for the big occasion.
A top score of 26 during the World Cup so far and a failure to reach double figures in any of his last five innings have been a major disappointment for him – and he and England alike will be desperate for him to show what he is capable of.
The 35-year-old has history in the T20 World Cup semi-finals though.
He hit an unbeaten 80 in the 2022 semi-final against the same opponent, in an unbroken opening partnership of 170 with Alex Hales.
He hit three sixes in that innings and, though he has just one in the tournament so far, we can’t look past the 4/5 for him to hit a maximum here.
The man with 4,012 T20I runs to his name will be aware of his lack of contribution with the bat so far and a last-four clash makes for the perfect opportunity to find form.
It may only take one clean strike of the ball to rediscover his touch and we’re backing the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman to turn his 174 T20I sixes into at least 175.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
