Twenty20 Champions League

The rapid action of the Twenty20 Champions League of Cricket has reached a culmination, with Trinidad and Tobago facing off against one of the pre-tournament favourites, New South Wales. Trinidad and Tobago blitzed their way past the challenge of South Africa’s Cape Crusaders on Thursday to reach the final. They have been the success story of the tournament so far, and much like Pakistan, who won the Twenty20 World Cup after a whole world of turmoil in their domestic cricket, T&T have been a bright spark in the midst of apparant doom and gloom. The West Indies, which players from T&T represent, are in the middle of a large upset with their top players on strike over pay dispute with the WICB.

Their unity and pride in representing their nation, is something which the rest of the West Indian players could learn a big lesson from. They had to scrap tooth and nail, matching Cape Crusaders blow for blow in an exciting semi final. It was Dwayne Bravo who finally gained the initiative with the bat, propelling Trinidad and Tobago past the Crusader’s first innings total, but throughout the tournament they have played with an invigorating, fearless and refreshing flair.

New South Wales were favourites for the tournament, and they have cruised their way to the final. Their semi final was a one-sided contest against fellow Aussies Victoria, and the team, lead by Simon Katich has looked strong. They have suffered only the one defeat in the tournament, and that came against their next opponents, Trinidad and Tobago. They came together in League A, where T&T won the match by four wickets with 9 balls left, despite a hefty 83 by NSW opener Phillip Hughes. It was T&T’s Keiron Pollard who hit a half century in just fifteen balls which swung the game. That was one of the defining moments of their tournament, taking down the favourites, which has left them unbeaten in the entire tournament.

NSW can boast household names such as Stuart Clarke, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken (although Bracken is not taking part). That is why they are so strong, and now the culmination of the tournament will see them with a little revenge on their mind. They have had first hand experience of the areas of threat that T&T can pose, and with the players they have at their disposal, they cannot be counted out just because T&T have already beaten them once.

New South Wales to win: 8/11 at Stan James
Trinidad and Tobago to win: 5/6 at Extrabet

Betting Advice: You put the two line ups together on paper, and you would probably put your house on New South Wales. But as Trinidad, who were 20/1 outsiders at the start compared to NSW being 9/2 favourites, anything can happen in Tewnty20. It is the crash bang action which makes it so popular. If New South Wales can disrupt the T&T openers, then they will be in with a good chance. They are definitely the stronger, more experience team without question. They have big game temperament as the core of their team have done everything at International level. It is a big occasion, and while the T&T dream is a glorious underdog tale, one would expect New South Wales to raise their game with the prize in sight.

Into the Semi Finals of the Twenty20 Champions League and both English competitors have fallen by the wayside. Sussex failed to a win a game in their initial group stage, and Somerset crashed out in a disappointing performance against strong Aussie team New South Wales. While on paper that six wicket loss cost them a place in the semi final, it would still have been an uphill task to qualify, even in the English side had won, as they would have been reliant on a better run rate, which they nowhere near had. Somerset were without former England star Marcus Trescothick, who had to depart from India because of a recurrence of the panic attacks which saw him retire from England duties.

Topping Group A in emphatic style was Trinidad and Tobago, which will hopefully be seen as boost back in the West Indies after all the trials and tribulations their domestic cricket scene has been undergoing. T&T have looked pretty awesome, and have caused many a surprise as emerging as serious contenders to take the Twenty20 Champions League. New South Wales head to the semi finals as runner’s up and will now have to take on the winner’s of Group B.

The position of Group B winners will be settled in Monday’s clash between second placed Cape Cobras, and bottom team Delhi Daredevils. The South African Cobras have already secured a semi place, but this match will decide if they progress as winners or runner’s up of Group B, with Victoria (our hot tip) being the other team to progress from the group.

TO WIN TWENTY20 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
New South Wales – 5/2 at 888Sport
Victoria – 13/5 at Bet365
Trinidad and Tobago – 11/4 at Stan James
Cape Cobras – 15/4 at Boylesports

Twenty20 Champions League

Results:
Group C: Bangalore v Cobras – Cobras win by 5 wickets
Group D: Delhi v Victoria – Victoria win by 7 wickets
Group B: Eagles v New South Wales – NSW win by 53 runs
Group C: Cobras v Otago – Cobras win by 54 runs
Group A: Deccan v Somerset – Somerset win by 1wkt
Group B: New South Wales v Sussex – Sussex win by 35 runs
Group D: Delhi v Wayamba – Delhi win by 50 runs
Group A: Someset v Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago win by 44 runs
Group C: Bangalore v Otago – Bangalore win by 80 runs

OUTRIGHT WINNER – LATEST ODDS
New South Wales – 9/2 at Boylesports
Victoria – 5/1 at Ladbrokes
Deccan Chargers – 6/1 at SkyBet
Cape Cobras – 8/1 at Totesport
Delhi Daredevils – 10/1 at BlueSquare
Bangalore Royal Challengers – 12/1 at Stan James
Sussex – 12/1 at SportingBet
Wayamba – 14/1 at Boylesports
Somerset – 16/1 at Stan James
Trinidad and Tobago – 20/1 at Bet365
Otago – 28/1 at Boylesports
Diamond Eagles – 50/1 at Boylesports

The Twenty20 Champions League is finally underway in India, after the tournament was previously postponed after last year’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The month of October will now be full of all the action of the Twenty20 Champions League. One surprising face taking part, is that of former England and Ashes hero, Marcus Trescothick. Trescothik retired from internationl cricket in 2008 after a much publicised bouts of depression and panic attacks, which made long tours away from home very difficult for the Somerset batsman. However, after ruling himself out a return to International Test action ahead of the Ashes series this year, he is taking a risk on his health to play in the Champions League.

Marcus Trescothick back at opener would be a welcome sight on the England team sheet, both in the full Test arena, and especially in the short formats of the game. His record speaks for itself, and is a rare uncompromising talent, which has earned him the reward of Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Player of the Year. This is a testament to one of the greatest modern age England batsmen, whose presence is sorely missed whenever his country takes the field. England are represented by two teams in the Twenty20 Champions League, Somerset and the Sussex Sharks.

The format of the competition begins with four groups of three teams, who will each play two games. The top two teams from each group, then progress into two leagues of four. The top two of those leagues will then go into a semi final, with the winners contesting the final. This all adds up to a total of 23 matches which culminate in the October 29th Final. After the spectacular show that the ICC Champions Trophy put on, with excitement all the way to re-enforce the popularity of the 50-over game, now it is the turn of the 20-over game to take centre stage in World Cricket.

This is the first time that domestic cricket teams will compete against ones from other nations for grand prize. With the big hitting displays on show, it is something that domestic teams will continuously strive towards qualifying for in the future. With the rise and rise of the Twenty20 format, it will give the best of the best, a chance to stake their claims for international duties.

GROUP A
Deccan Chargers (India)
Somerset CCC (England)
Trinidad and Tobago
Markus Trescothick will be turning out for Somerset CCC in Group A of the Champions League, and they have a fair chance of progressing deep into the tournament. The Deccan Chargers, one of the stronger teams in the competition, won the Indian Premier Teams, and are on of three Indian tams playing on home turf. They can call upon the experience of Scott Styris, Adam Gilchrist and RP Singh. Trinidad and Tobago are there because they won the Stanford 20/20 competition, and their main threats will come from Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.
Tip: The Deccan Chargers look the strongest on paper, with Somerset to qualify.

GROUP B
NSW Blues (Australia)
Diamond Eagles (South Africa)
Sussex Sharks (England)
England’s only other representatives in the comeption, the Sussex Sharks, get the chance to impress in Group B after winning the Twenty20 Cup in England, beating Somerset. They should be in with a genuine chance of winning the tournament. Some familiar names will include Ed Joyce, Luke Wright, Yassir Arafat and Dwayne Smith. New South Wales are Australia’s winning representatives in the Twenty20 competition, and boast Simon Katich and Brett Lee. It is no surprise that the Aussies will pose a big threat, as they generally have the excessive flair needed to attack in the shortest format of the game. The Diamond Eagles were South Africa’s Twenty20 Runner’s-up. They might not have names that are instantly recognisable, but one to watch out for is Morne Van Wyk.
Tip: Sussex should have the edge to win this group.

GROUP C
Royal Challengers Bangalore (India)
Cape Cobras (South Africa)
Otago Volts (New Zealand)
India’s Royal Challengers could be one of the most interesting teams to watch, with Ross Taylor, Dale Steyn, Rahul Dravid, Jack Kallis, Mark Boucher and Anil Kumble in the team. Found some good form last year in the IPL to reach the final, so should have their tails up. The Cape Cobras are South Africa’s main representatives in the competition after winning their domestic competition and with JP Duminy, Herschel Gibbs and Carl Langeveldt among the star performers. The Otaga Volts are New Zealand’s only representatives. They may try and take some inspiration from their national side reaching the ICC Champions Trophy final against all the odds, but it’s unlikely they are going to make that kind of impact here.
Tip: The Cobras should carry through form and topple the Challengers for top of the group.

GROUP D
Delhi Daredevils (India)
Victorian Bushrangers (Australia)
Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka)
The Delhi Daredevils will be thinking that they have a good chance of taking the title, but it is going to be a tough task. They look like England out on the field of play, and have players capable of winning games, like Owais Shah, Dilshan and Gautam Gambhir but will be without England’s Paul Collingwood who is injured. Aussie veteran Glenn McGrath takes his place. They will need to get past the initial challenge of the Bushrangers. The Bushrangers are the most dominant Twenty20 team in Australia with Brad Hodge, Cameron White and David Hussey smacking the ball around it’s easy to see why. Not many star names, but a real threat. Sri Lanka are represented by Wayamba Elevens. Batting star Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis and all rounder Farveez Maharoof will be the ones to watch for them.
Tip: The Bushrangers to win, Daredevils as runner’s-up

Betting Tip:
The Victorian Bushrangers are currently at 5/1 and a good price. They are worth taking, even on an each way bet. Sussex probably have a better chance than their outside odds suggest, so again, an each way at 12/1 is not a bad bet. Nor are the Challengers at 12/1.

New South Wales – 9/2 at Boylesports
Victoria – 5/1 at Ladbrokes
Deccan Chargers – 6/1 at SkyBet
Cape Cobras – 8/1 at Totesport
Delhi Daredevils – 10/1 at BlueSquare
Bangalore Royal Challengers – 12/1 at Stan James
Sussex – 12/1 at SportingBet
Wayamba – 14/1 at Boylesports
Somerset – 16/1 at Stan James
Trinidad and Tobago – 20/1 at Bet365
Otago – 28/1 at Boylesports
Diamond Eagles – 50/1 at Boylesports