After some topsy-turvy action spread across two weeks where tournament favourites were dumped earlier than expected, we are now set to find the winner of 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.
England will clash with the West Indies in the Final at Kolkata on Sunday April 3, which will mean we will have the first multiple winner of the Cup for cricket's shortest format.
Upsetting the predictions of many experts (although not Before You Bet's own Mr.Cricket), these two teams have made it to the final largely on the back of some dynamic performances. If the Windies banked on their flair and experience of the format, England surprised everyone with their refreshingly aggressive approach. Both stand one game away from being crowned World T20 champions.
The pre-tournament talk around the West Indies revolved around their contract melee, which has been a saga entertaining enough to be a television soap opera. However, the team rose above those petty issues to provide quality cricket and reach the final. If it was Chris Gayle who cleared the path to the semi-finals, the efforts of Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles and Andre Russell vaulted them into the finals at the expense of India.
That semi-final effort dispelled any notions that this Windies team is a one-man show. Their strength is certainly in their talisman and master-destroyer Gayle, but the plethora of T20 specialists at their disposal makes them a very dangerous side.
Right across the table is a completely unfamiliar England side – unfamiliar even to their own supporters. This Eoin Morgan side has played a totally un-English brand of cricket - fearlessly and aggressively to reach this far. For a long time, the English T20 sides have been lambasted for being straight-jacketed and devoid of aggression – but not this time.
The approach of Jason Roy and Alex Hales at the top and the calm exploits of Joe Root in the middle or the flamboyance of Ben Stokes have shown us that England have found the right blend of challengers for this format.
Eoin Morgan is too good a player to end any tournament with two golden ducks, let alone one. He already faced that public shame and will be itching to stamp his presence as a player. At odds of $6 at Sportsbet he is not bad an option to be England's top runscorer. Gayle, meanwhile, may have flopped in the semis but that perhaps makes him even more dangerous. At odds of $3 at Sportsbet, he may end up being the best batsman for Windies.
In terms of the match, we think the West Indies will be too strong.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
