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Table-toppers India 9-5 to lift World Cup as injury problems mount for Australia

Latest 2019 Cricket World Cup betting news and analysis

India openers Lokesh Rahul and Rohit Sharma scored centuries in the win over Sri Lanka
India openers Lokesh Rahul and Rohit Sharma scored centuries in the win over Sri LankaCredit: Clive Mason

Cricket World Cup semi-finals
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Bookmakers believe Australia's defeat to South Africa on Saturday evening has provided a major boost to India's chances of winning a third World Cup title.

The Aussies' ten-run loss meant they finished second, behind India, in the league stage of the tournament, setting up a semi-final with old rivals England at Edgbaston on Thursday.

India, who beat Sri Lanka in their final league game, face an easier assignment – according to the betting, at least – and they are 4-11 to beat New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli's men are 9-5 favourites to lift the trophy, just ahead of 2-1 shots England. Australia are 14-5 to retain their crown and New Zealand, 11-1 ante-post, are still as big as 9-1 after reaching the last four.

The Black Caps' league fixture against India was abandoned without a ball being bowled but the teams met in New Zealand in January, when India won the series 4-1.

England are 8-11, and as short as 8-13, to avenge their group-stage defeat to Australia by winning Thursday's semi-final and injury problems are stacking up for the Aussies.

Batsman Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (side strain) is a doubt for the semi-final. Matthew Wade, currently touring England with Australia A, is set to replace Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh has been called up as cover for Stoinis.

Peter Handscomb had already joined the squad as a replacement for Shaun Marsh, who broke his wrist in the nets last week.


Leading runscorers
1 R SharmaIndia 647
2 D WarnerAustralia 638
3 S Al Hasan*Bangladesh 606
4 A Finch Australia 507
5 J RootEngland 500
6 K WilliamsonNew Zealand 481
7 B Azam*Pakistan 474
8 J BairstowEngland 462

Leading wicket-takers
1 M StarcAustralia 26
2 M Rahman*Bangladesh 20
3= L FergusonNew Zealand 17
3= M Amir*Pakistan 17
3= J BumrahIndia 17
3= J ArcherEngland 17
7= S Afridi*Pakistan 16
7= M WoodEngland 16
*Plays for a team who failed to qualify for the semi-finals


Australia still have some outstanding performers in their ranks, however. David Warner, 6-4 to finish as the tournament's top runscorer, goes into the semi-final stage nine runs behind leader and 4-6 favourite Rohit Sharma, who has scored five centuries in eight innings at the 2019 World Cup.

And Mitchell Starc appears to have the top wicket-taker heat sewn up after claiming 26 wickets in the league stage of the tournament, six more than Mustafizur Rahman of eliminated Bangladesh.

Starc is 1-50 to finish as top bowler – he is nine wickets clear of Jofra Archer of England and Jasprit Bumrah, both 25-1 chances, and New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, who is 33-1.

Eliminated teams: where your money went

Afghanistan
Top runscorer Rahmat Shah 7-2f
Top wicket-taker Mohammad Nabi 9-2
Group-stage elimination odds 1-50

Bangladesh
Top runscorer Shakib Al Hasan 5-1
Top wicket-taker Mustafizur Rahman 3-1f
Group-stage elimination odds 1-25

Pakistan
Top runscorer Babar Azam 2-1f
Top wicket-taker Mohammad Amir 4-1
Group-stage elimination odds 4-9

South Africa
Top runscorer
Faf du Plessis 3-1
Top wicket-taker
Chris Morris 12-1
Group-stage elimination odds
4-5

Sri Lanka
Top runscorer
Kusal Perera 9-2
Top wicket-taker
Lasith Malinga 3-1
Group-stage elimination odds
1-20

West Indies
Top runscorer
Nicholas Pooran 14-1
Top wicket-taker
Sheldon Cottrell 4-1
Group-stage elimination odds
2-5


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