Australia vs Pakistan ICC World Cup 2023 Betting Preview and Predictions

Australia and Pakistan will face each other in the 18th match of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 on October 20 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This will be the first match of the tournament at this venue, which is known for its high-scoring pitches and small boundaries. Both teams have won two and lost two matches so far and are in a tight race for the top four spots. Here is a betting preview and some predictions for this crucial encounter.

Head to Head Record

Australia and Pakistan have played each other 109 times in ODIs, with Australia winning 70 and Pakistan 32. Seven matches have ended in no result or tie. In World Cups, they have met ten times, with Australia winning six and Pakistan four. The last time they faced each other in a World Cup was in 2019, when Australia won by 41 runs at Taunton.

Recent Form

Australia are coming off a confident win over Sri Lanka by five wickets in their last match. They chased down 240 with 11 overs to spare, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Josh Inglis and a quick-fire 46 from Glenn Maxwell. However, they have also suffered defeats against India and South Africa in their first two matches and are currently placed eighth in the points table.

Pakistan, on the other hand, suffered a humiliating loss against arch-rivals India by seven wickets in their previous match. They were bowled out for 191 after being put into bat first, with only Babar Azam (50) and Iftikhar Ahmed (44) showing some resistance. India chased down the target with ease, with Rohit Sharma scoring an unbeaten century. Pakistan have also beaten the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in their first two matches and are fourth in the table.

Team News

Australia are unlikely to make any changes to their winning combination. They have stuck with the same XI for all their matches so far, despite losing two of them. Travis Head, who was expected to play a key role in the middle order, has not got a chance yet and might have to wait longer. Alex Carey is also likely to sit out as Josh Inglis has impressed with the gloves and the bat.

Pakistan have some injury concerns as several players are suffering from viral fever in Bengaluru. Their opener Abdullah Shafique is in quarantine and might miss the match. Fakhar Zaman, who missed the last match due to illness, is also doubtful. Mohammad Rizwan, who has been struggling with form and fitness, might be replaced by Sarfaraz Ahmed behind the stumps. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been their best bowler so far, is also recovering from fever but is expected to play.

Key Players

Babar Azam is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in this World Cup with 153 runs from four matches at an average of 38.25. He scored a fluent half-century against India but could not convert it into a big score. He will be eager to make amends against Australia and lead his team from the front.

Mitchell Marsh is the top scorer for Australia in this tournament with 156 runs from four matches at an average of 52. He has also taken three wickets with his medium pace. He has been promoted to open the batting alongside David Warner and has given his team some solid starts. He will look to continue his good form and provide some impetus to the Australian innings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in this World Cup with nine wickets from four matches at an average of 16.66. He has been lethal with the new ball and has also bowled well at the death. He took three wickets against India but could not prevent their defeat. He will hope to trouble the Australian batsmen with his pace and swing.

Adam Zampa is the most successful bowler for Australia in this tournament with eight wickets from four matches at an average of 21.25. He has been economical as well, conceding only 4.25 runs per over. He took three wickets against Sri Lanka and helped his team restrict them to a modest total. He will be a key weapon for Australia in the middle overs.

Betting Odds

According to Bet365, Australia are the favourites to win this match, with odds of 1.57. Pakistan are the underdogs, with odds of 2.37.

Predictions

This match promises to be a high-scoring thriller, as both teams have some explosive batsmen and some potent bowlers. The pitch at Bengaluru is expected to be flat and favour the batsmen, but there might be some assistance for the spinners as well. The weather is likely to be sunny and warm, with no chance of rain.

Australia have the edge over Pakistan in terms of experience and consistency, but Pakistan have the ability to surprise anyone on their day. They will need to put up a better performance than they did against India and show some fight and resilience. Australia will not take them lightly and will try to seal their third win of the tournament.

We predict that Australia will win this match by a narrow margin and boost their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Conclusion

Australia vs Pakistan is one of the most anticipated matches of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. Both teams are in a tight race for the top four spots and will be desperate to win this match. Australia have a better head to head record and recent form, but Pakistan have the potential to upset them with their unpredictable and aggressive style. We expect a high-scoring and close contest, with Australia emerging victorious in the end.

FAQ

Q: When and where is the match?
A: The match is on October 20, 2023 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It will start at 2 PM IST.

Q: Where can I watch the match?
A: You can watch the match live on Star Sports network or stream it online on Hotstar.

Q: Who are the captains of the teams?
A: Pat Cummins is the captain of Australia and Babar Azam is the captain of Pakistan.

Q: Who are the umpires for the match?
A: The on-field umpires for the match are Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Illingworth. The third umpire is Michael Gough and the match referee is Andy Pycroft.