Showdown at Sabina

It's not too hard to work out what possibly will happen in tonight's semifinal at the Cricket World Cup between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The popular opinion is SL have slightly the better team, NZ have trouble coping with their bowling attack and thus SL deserve to be sub-$1.80 favourites.

But as with all ODI internationals, such an advantage can be nullified depending on the pitch conditions and the importance of winning the toss. Again, you don't have to be Einstein to work out that NZ's best chance of getting through to the final is bowling first on a pitch that has something for the pace bowlers early on.

From a betting point of view, it's stay out until the toss. Back the team bowling first, no matter what the price.