Let’s look at the Pakistan v Australia 2nd ODI betting tips. Pakistan and Australia endure a quick turnaround in their One Day International series when returning to action at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the latest leg of a glamour tour. UK fans who enjoyed Friday’s opener will be eager to catch this one and they can do just that from 11.00am on Sunday. We have one result in the books but there’s plenty more to come before we arrive at a winner in a week’s time.
As always, bookmakers have done their bit to mark the occasion, pricing up a host of exciting markets that allows punters to ramp up their interest. This will be an enjoyable fixture to keep an eye on but cheering home a winning bet will make it all the more special.
Pick a side and back either Pakistan or Australia in what is a competitive match winner market or delve a bit deeper into the betting and play one of the many specials that have been set-out to catch your attention. Who will score most runs or take most wickets for Pakistan? Who will end the day as Australia’s top batsman or leading bowler? Correctly predicting the answers to those questions will see you turn a profit.
Let’s take a look at how the 1st ODI match went and what lessons can be learned by punters before taking on the second instalment.
Aussies Battle for a Winning Start
Bookies struggled to separate the teams going into Friday’s 1st One Day International match and they were shrewd to take up position on the fence as, right up until the last ball, the game looked like it could go either way. Pakistan started and put up a respectable 280-5 (50.0). A score that was capable of winning the match and one that would take all the chasing down, but their opponents managed it with a little to spare.
Australia responded with an eye-catching 281-2 (49.0), enough to hand them the victory by eight wickets. The final scoreboard suggested it was a hard-fought encounter that hung in the balance for long periods of time and that was a fair reflection of how the afternoon went. The Aussies had to roll up their sleeves to get themselves across the line but in doing so their impressed pundits and fans alike, while winning over a few critics who had been quick to stick the boot in when the going got tough. There’s more to come from this team too.
Australia looked down and out for the best part of 2018 following the ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket to its core. Heads rolled at the governing body in an attempt to appease fans, there was accusations and counter accusations from both sides of the gaping divide, an independent review couldn’t really make heads or tails of it all, saying there was blame on both parts and neutrals hoped for a resolution.
Oz Improving With Every Game
They finally look to have got their wish and although Australia are nowhere near back to their best, they are heading in the right direction and don’t look a million miles off the pace. They took their time about it – that was understandable – but they are getting better with the passing of every game. We knew the Aussies were good enough when in the mood to match any opponent and, on paper, they had the players to compete at the top level, but there was a confidence crisis in the ranks.
Friday’s win moved them a step closer to home but, as spectators, we couldn’t miss the fighting spirit and togetherness that seemed to ooze from the Australian camp. David Warner and Steve Smith finally completed their ban and although they were not in the squad that travelled for this tour, their return helped everyone connected to cricket in Australia take the end of the ban as a fresh start and chance to draw a line under the whole issue in good time for what will be a busy year of cricket.
There are some big fixtures on the horizon after this, including the ICC World Cup in the UK where Australia start with what is sure to be a baptism of fire against England at Ageas Bowl, Southampton on 25 May. That will certainly tell us how far the Aussies have come this year. Before getting in to that the squad must continue to churn out strong performances and the players’ desperation to be on that plane to England will ensure we see an improved effort over the next few weeks. An ODI series win certainly won’t do them any harm.
Stick With That Fighting Spirit
Approaching the 2nd ODI and bookmakers appear to have learned their lesson from the opener and although there wasn’t an awful lot in Friday’s stand-off, traders at Coral have thrown the bulk of their support behind two-in-a-row and have Australia as odds-on favourite. A knee-jerk reaction? Well, maybe, but there’s little doubt the victors will shape all the better for sticking their noses in front.
If you expect more of the same with Australia opening a two-game cushion you can back them at 8/13 with Coral. That will do a job in your weekend accumulators or there’s enough there if you’d prefer to steam in with a bigger stake. We were impressed by their fighting spirit last time and seem to have eradicated the silly errors that held them back early in the year. We’ll have an Aussie win as our best bet and that makes more sense than taking a flustered Pakistan at 5/4.
Prefer to avoid picking a winner? There’s lots to get involved in when trawling through the specials markets. We’re having an interest play on a century to be scored in the match at 8/11 and that bet will be paid out as a winner regardless of who knocks the 100, as long as it’s registered. Glenn Maxwell has been in fine form of late and he’s worth a poke at 11/2 to be top Australian batsman.