The field and groups for the Super 8s of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup is set, and that stage is set to begin on Wednesday with the two tournament co-hosts, the USA—that’s right, the USA—(versus South Africa) and the West Indies (versus England) both in action.
While we know which teams will be taking part in the Super 8s and the makeup of the two groups of four, the group stage isn’t quite finished yet. Today, that will wrap up with New Zealand facing Papua New Guinea (10:30 am ET) and the West Indies taking on Afghanistan (8:30 pm ET) to close out Group C play.
In the nightcap, which will take place at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, the winner will join Australia and South Africa as the teams to finish the group stage with four wins in four games and all eight possible points.
In many events that feature a group stage, a matchup that determines top spot in the group will have a bearing on the next round.
However, that is not the case here. Why is that? For the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, the Super 8s spots were pre-allotted. India (A1), Australia (B2), New Zealand (C1), and Sri Lanka (D2) were pre-allotted spots in Super 8s Group 1, while Pakistan (A2), England (B1), West Indies (C2), and South Africa (D1) were pre-allotted spots in Super 8s Group 2.
Instead of group standings determining how spots would shake out, the pre-allotted spots of the teams who didn’t qualify were simply filled by the team that did qualify from that particular group. Therefore, the USA took A2, Afghanistan is locked into C1, and Bangladesh claimed D2.
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West Indies vs Afghanistan Odds
West Indies vs Afghanistan cricket odds are courtesy of Bovada, one of the best sports betting sites to use for T20 World Cup action. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the tournament there.
Moneyline
- West Indies -195
- Afghanistan +160
West Indies vs Afghanistan Prediction & Picks
Even though this match won’t have any bearing on the next round, that doesn’t mean that both teams won’t put in their best effort to finish Group C with four wins in four games and all eight possible points.
With tough tests ahead in the Super 8s, this match will be good prep for both teams.
Afghanistan won’t be expected to finish ahead of either Australia or India in Group 1, but with a comprehensive win over New Zealand—even if the Blackcaps were not anywhere near their best in this tournament—and a win over the West Indies, they will enter the Super 8s with reason to feel confident about potentially pulling the one upset that they might need to reach the semifinals.
The West Indies made hard work of their opener against PNG and found themselves in a potentially perilous position against New Zealand, but they have delivered with both the bat and the ball when needed in each of their wins. Tonight’s game will be a good opportunity to try to put in a complete performance against quality competition and set themselves up well to do the same against England and South Africa, the two favorites to advance from Group 2.
The West Indies will certainly have the backing of the home crowd, and this not being a must-win match may allow them to play as loosely and freely as possible.
However, the latter can also be said of Afghanistan, who did have some nervy moments while chasing a low target in Friday’s seven-wicket win against PNG after routing Uganda and New Zealand in their first two matches.
In this spot, I’m prioritizing value, and the value is firmly with Afghanistan. I don’t recommend a heavy investment, but with the odds, their performances to this point, and the situation in mind, this is an opportunity to not pass up.
West Indies vs Afghanistan Prediction: Afghanistan to win
West Indies vs Afghanistan Picks: Afghanistan ML (+165 at Bovada)
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