It’s the second outing of what will be a hectic month for Irish cricket as the team are used to help prepare some of the sport’s biggest names for the upcoming World Cup in England. The locals set-up against the English on Friday when they aimed to repeat the spectacular feat of beating them at a previous World Cup, before turning their attentions to Sunday. Here are our top Ireland v West Indies 1st ODI betting tips.
Some may believe this is a step down in grade from the opponent faced at the start of the weekend but the hosts put in a huge effort that day, given how important it was to fans, and there’s sure to be a few tired legs in the home dressing room as a result.
In Windies they also face a respected opponent who will be keen to record a morale-boosting win, proving themselves to be head and shoulders above this level of opposition. Will they get their wish, or will we see Ireland continue to close the gap between themselves and those sat at the top table of international cricket? It’ll be great fun finding out.
Bet Pre-Match or In-Play
On paper, this game has it all and you can spice up the occasion with a winning bet. Pick which side will come out on top and secure the One Day International victory or trawl the many specials on offer. Have your say on the top Ireland batsman market or the player to take most wickets wearing the colours of the locals.
Who will top score for West Indies, which man will be their most successful bowler and who will win the coin toss? It’s all there, and plenty more besides, meaning you can enjoy a bet that’ll give you an interest for the duration of play.
Once the game has started, you’ll be glad to know many major bookmakers offer in-play betting odds and that allows you to get involved at any point of the afternoon. The game starts at 10.45am GMT at the Village, Dublin and the odds will be updated throughout play, with lines moved to keep pace with the fixture. Jump in at any point and invest your cash.
Mixed Bag against Afghanistan
Ireland’s last One Day International series win came over Afghanistan on the road back in March of this year when beating their opponents by a margin of five wickets, the final score reading 219-5 (47.2) against Afghanistan’s 216-6 (50.0). An enjoyable game played out by two evenly matched contestants and it was a result that would’ve filled the Irish team with confidence, suggesting they are capable to move on from that level and go to challenge for bigger and better prizes.
They suffered the familiar sting of defeat next time out, however, when falling to the same opponent by a seven-wicket margin in the final match of that tour. Afghanistan fired back to claim the bragging rights in the Test Match format, the result reading Afghanistan 314 all out and 149-3 against Ireland’s 172 all out and 288 all out. A bit of a beating and that will put a few backers off taking a chance here, despite the return to ODI cricket.
The hosts were boosted by the return to action of wicketkeeper and batsman Gary Wilson and there’s no doubt they are a better team for his inclusion. The 33-year-old missed the series against Afghanistan due to vision issues, but it’s reported he’s back to full fitness and ready to make up for lost time. He’s a man with the kind of experience that will come in handy here and we’re expecting Wilson to get his edge back against England before playing an important role when the West Indies come to Dublin.
Russell Back in the Mix
West Indies also received good news as they prepare for the World Cup in England with coaches once again able to call on the ever-popular Andre Russell, naming him in their squad as they look to make an impact on the big stage. Windies have been written off by bookies to put a dent in the World Cup but they are a side packed with both experience and skill and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in sport to see them go deep into the format, pulling off an upset or two along the way.
We will get a feel for how West Indies are going to cope with the challenges of this summer by how they set-up in their warm-up matches and it’s predicted they will send out a real message of intent here, showing they are a nation determined to gate-crash the party. Winning this match won’t require their best efforts, of course, but it’s all about gaining match sharpness, getting confidence into the ranks and showing just what they can do.
The coaching staff will also use the ODI Tri Series to test out a few tactical changes, knowing they can afford to relax and enjoy their cricket before things get much more serious in the weeks to come. Windies suffered a bit of a battering earlier this year when knocked from pillar to post by an England side who were determined to put on a show. The beaten side may not have got the result they were after, but they did put up some impressive numbers and can take confidence from their performance. More of the same is expected.
Value About the Away Win
The West Indies are favourites to win this match but there’s plenty of value to get your hands on and that will make this one a much more enjoyable contest. West Indies to live up to expectations is 2/9 with William Hill and that’s a strong bet for your accumulators.
You can take a punt on the underdogs grabbing a famous home win, yours at a cracking 10/3 when betting at William Hill. Windies will be out to make a fast start and have been chalked up on the betting board at 1/2 (William Hill) for caught to be their first wicket method.