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Following the toss and the inclusion of the potentially expensive (and rusty Sreesanth) [b]BACK SL runs 250+ @ 1.8 £15[/b] Although not always trustworthy Nasser says the ball will come on to the bat early on and with the short boundaries (and Sreesanth spraying it about) it could result in Dilshan & Tharanga scoring freely early doors.

Bank 111 After a world cup that seems to have flown we have a final between 2 of the top sides in the competition and there has been no fluke in them getting to the final. SL who have played their games at home may be at a slight disadvantage having to move to India for the final, and one of their mystery men is walking wounded (Murali) but beware wounded tigers. Indias bowling attack showed improved control against Pakistan but is still their weak link and only Zaheer & Harbhajan are likely to run through the SL line-up, SL have several potential bowling match winners on their day although India do play spin well. It seems likely that the winner of the toss will bat first - and try an apply maximum scoreboard pressure, a tactic that certainly affected Pakistan in the semi-final. Is...

Bank 116 The Kiwis produced a stunning display of fielding coupled with disciplined bowling to overturn the Chokers and fully deserve their semi-final berth. SL fielded like amateurs, bowled sensibly and still comfortably saw off the weak and feeble challenge of the Enlish bowlers. The danger for NZ is that the 1/4 final was their final and that they will be emotionally drained for another test 4 days later. The danger for SL is that 3 wickets and NZ are into a batting line up without a great deal of form or practice in the tournament. However, the top 4 are scoring really heavily - and the pitch will not offer a great deal to the bowlers. The pitch for the Eng v SL game (the same pitch as today) was low / slow and helpful to spin. I am not convinced that Vettori is 100% and ...

Bank 113 Sri Lanka in their own back yard is not the best draw that England could have had, but there is hope. The Sri Lankan batting is not long - but the top 4 are very very good players, but if England could take 2 or 3 early scalps then there is definitely hope. Scoring a decent total is, however, a different story, SL have the slinger Malinga and the mystery (even though he has been playing for ages) of Murali & Mendis, and a collapse is therefore possible at any time. Sri Lanka look the obvious favourites, but so did South Africa. Malinga is likely to open the bowling and although he has a lot more control than Shaun Tait he does tend to bowl the odd full toss, the odd wide one and the odd rank long hop (although a very quick long hop). [b]LAY England 1st over runs ...

Bank 113 Will the Kiwis crumble to the SA pace - like they did a couple of weeks ago vs the Australians ? Possibly, but since then several of the leading bats have found a bit more form. Will Vettori be truly fit ? will the bowling attack hold any real terrors for the top order of SA ?? Probably not, and probably not. However, South Africa don't have the choker tag for no reason. They do seemingly have the ability to get themselves into fairly deep holes at the strangest times. They have so far lost to England - from a very winnable position, got themselves into a deep hole vs India and escaped so they have had the right sort of close games to hone their skills. NZ and SA both possess the sort of batting line ups to produce an explosive match - if NZ can survive the new...

Bank 103 West Indies without Gayle and Roach are a completely different proposition and although India are short of the talismanic and mercurial Sehwag they still possess a very long very talented batting line up - and the pitch at Chennai is spin friendly too. India batting first should rack up a very decent score, and will then bowl WIndies out without too much difficulty. [b] BACK Sachin Tendulkar to score 50 £8 @ 2.12 BACK India Inns Runs 250 or More £30 @ 1.3 LAY India 1st over runs 0-3 to win £10 @ 3.0 (risk 20)[/b]

Bank 119 Can the Banglas play the Saffers pace ? If not, they will be leaving the competition here and now, and historically if the ball bounces the Banglas struggle. Can the Saffers play the array of slow bowling that they will be presented with ? Although there is potentially a lack of depth to the batting there is also a lot of quality, Amla, Kallis & DeVilliers and without a quality strike bowler (of any variety) there is no real prospect of Bangladesh failing to stop the Saffers posting a very large score (if they bat first) but there is a possibility of defending a half decent score if any sort of pressure can be applied. [b]BACK SA to win £20 @ 1.23[/b]

Bank 100 (Back to square one) This is Englands final match in the tournament unless they can beat the Windies. Fortunately they are not playing on the Bangalore road as the bowlers may well have disappeared to all parts of Bangalore town (Gayle & Pollard hit the ball very very hard). The pitch at Chennai is bowler friendly and England have got to get another spinner in the side - especially as KP has gone home - why do they keep picking Yardy over Treadwell ??? but i guess that they will go that way again. In the match v SA 180 was a more than adequate score as the ball did all sorts but 180 is a score that is always vulnerable to a big hitting cowboy - Pollard ?? - who could win a match effectively in 5 overs if the line / length weren't quite right (and sometime if they were). The...

Bank 145 Rick Ponting does not like, and I mean really does not like. the minnows being in this competition and as he stated in his press conference there will be no letting up in this match " we want to be playing at our best. We are looking to win tomorrow's game comfortably". Canada have tried manfully but are just not up to this level, their bowling lacks penetration and their batting lacks the sort of firepower that could create an upset. This is the same ground as Englands match vs India and Ireland and if Australia bat then they could score 400 - and they may try to do it to prove a point about their dislike of the minnows. Haddin & Watson score freely against the majority of attacks - and if it is like a road then the ball may go to all parts. [b]BACK Australia 10 over...