Australia v Sri Lanka 2nd Test Match Betting Tips & Predictions -


Betting Tips

Australia v Sri Lanka 2nd Test Match Betting Tips & Predictions

Let’s check out the best Australia v Sri Lanka 2nd Test Match betting tips and odds. Australia and Sri Lanka start what’s billed as a crucial 2nd Test Match for both sides when going head-to-head on Thursday at Manuka Oval in Canberra. It’s another late-night fixture for UK fans, as you would expect, with the live coverage expected to get underway at 11.30pm GMT.

Both sets of players need the result for very different reasons and with the pressure building, this is sure to be a thrilling contest, one well worth staying up late for. Australia has their noses in front following an important 1st Test Match win and is a hot favourite with bookies to double up.

If the locals can deliver it would drive them closer to the monumental Test series win fans have waited so long for and would go some way to help to heal old wounds; it would allow everyone at Cricket Australia to look to the future with confidence.

Sri Lanka hasn’t endured the same off-field problems as their opponents; however, on the cricket field, their form is fast becoming a cause for concern. If Australia were to match the efforts of England and hand down another embarrassing whitewash, serious questions will need answering.

Bookmakers Act

Bookmakers have acted on the tension, pricing up a number of 2nd Test Match markets designed to hold your interest and keep you watching the play. You can have your say on the winner of the 2nd Test, or play one of the specials, such as Australian’s top 1st innings batsman and Sri Lanka’s top 1st innings run-scorer; the man of the match; draw no bet and double chance.

Coral also send out a couple of enhanced odds offers and it’s worth checking their site before getting your money down. Traders there like to give you a bit more value by boosting the odds of a player or combo bet. Flick through the markets to see what they have.

With the 1st Test Match result in the book, we take a look at what went on during the opener and what clues can be taken from the performances of both teams…

Australia Finally Deliver

It was a long time coming, too long for a nation with Australia’s proud history; however, they finally scored an important opening Test Match win, putting themselves in a fantastic position to bag a long-overdue series victory over a respected opponent. The home team went into the match as betting favourites and delivered the goods, winning by an innings and 40 runs. Bookies had them picked to get off to a winning start; however, the performance and margin of victory caught a few off-guard and everyone connected to CA will be eager to see them build on that success.

The final scores read Australia 323 all out against a pitiful 144 all out and 139-9 of their opponents. Sri Lanka ended on the wrong side of a hammering, and they knew it too. The result was complete, the victory sealed in three short days and it looked like Oz hadn’t got out of first gear yet, their confidence and belief flooding back into the crew with every score.

It was a real team effort and critics would have a tough job on their hands picking fault with any home player; however, there were a few who shone brightly. Fast bowler Pat Cummins was one of them, putting in a career-best performance when taking 6-23 as he rattled the tourists, giving them an early indication of just what they were in for on this tour. Australia is a wounded animal and, judging by what we saw last week, one ready to strike and set the fightback in motion.

Paine Full of Praise

Captain Tim Paine cut a relieved figure when speaking to the press at the end of the match and was quick to congratulate teammate Cummins on his success, telling fans if the bowler can play like that more often, he’ll take wickets from any opponent. Ensuring the performance got the respect it deserved, Paine added any Test win that can be achieved in just three days is a huge effort, especially for such a young, inexperienced team, and it’ll do wonders for their confidence.

Traders seem to agree, so much so they have priced 2-0 up as red-hot favourite with Coral customers having to make do with the 1/6 on another home cheer. There’s not enough there to catch the interest of average backers, even in stacked accumulators, which forces us into the specials markets.

Stick with Pat Cummins and bet on how many wickets he’ll claim in the 1st innings, over 2.5 looking a great bet at 11/10, under 2.5 deemed more likely by odds compilers who have it at 4/6. Cummins to be top Australia wicket-taker during the 1st innings is 9/4, that quote making him joint-favourite with Mitchell Starc. He’s 20/1 for Oz top 1st innings run-scorer, but that doesn’t make as much appeal as the 9/2 on Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja 3/1 favourite on that list.

Sri Lanka Up Against It

On the other side of the fence and it’s almost impossible to make a strong case for Sri Lanka fighting their way back into this one. They were woeful during that 1st Test Match defeat and will be forced into playing a weakened team for the 2nd Test. Lahiru Kumara was unable to bat during the opener due to a hamstring injury and that same knock has ruled him out of action this week, with an extended period on the sidelines expected.

Odds-makers at Coral have Sri Lanka at 8/1 to level things up and there’s not a lot of difference between the equaliser and a forced draw, the latter trading 9/1. If you expect Sri Lanka to lose again, you can still support them with a bet. Back Kusal Mendis to be top 1st innings runscorer at 7/2 or Suranga Lakmal top 1st innings wicket-taker at 2/1. Both should give you something to cheer on what should be a tough few days for the tourists.

Our Tip: Pat Cummins over 2.5 wickets in the 1st innings – 11/10 at Coral

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