T20 Cricket Betting Strategy

• Wicket: the set of stumps and bails at each end of the pitch
• Yorker: a delivery bowled so that it lands at the batsman's feet, making it difficult to hit
• Googly: a deceptive ball bowled by a leg-spinner that turns the opposite way
• Stock Delivery: the primary or most reliable delivery a bowler uses, typically their go-to ball in most situations
• Pace Bowler: Bowler who relies on speed to deliver the ball, typically aiming to bowl at high velocities to beat the batsman with bounce and movement
• Spinner: a bowler who uses spin to turn the ball, typically relying on slower speeds and variations in flight to deceive the batsman
• Death Bowler: a bowler who specializes in the final overs of a limited-overs match, focusing on restricting runs and taking wickets with yorkers, slower balls, and variations

Since the first official Twenty20 matches were played in England in 2003, the 20-over-a-side version of cricket—now more commonly known as T20—has become arguably its most popular format.

The growth of the Indian Premier League (IPL), founded in 2008, launched T20 cricket into the stratosphere despite grumbles from the traditionalists who favour red-ball test cricket. With matches over three hours, it has widened the sport's appeal for fans and bettors.

A coin toss decides who will bat first. Conditions, especially with matches often taking place in the evening under lights, play a big part in the thinking of the winning captain. Because there is a 30- to 45-minute gap between the coin toss and the start of the match, the coin toss can also impact betting odds.

In the first six overs, known as the powerplay, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard fielding circle. This will prompt many opening batters to take more risks than usual to try and clear the infield. After six overs, the bowling side can place up to five fielders outside the circle, which often helps to slow the run rate.

Bowlers generally put down “stock deliveries” in longer formats and aim for consistent line and length, but T20 sees far greater variations against more attacking batters. Pace bowlers use yorkers, deliveries out of the back of the hand, and slower bouncers with greater regularity, while spinners employ the googly more often than usual.

One-day cricket has long had “death bowlers,” those who specialise in bowling at the end of an innings, but that concept has assumed even greater importance in T20 cricket. Pace, pace variations, and a good yorker or a slower ball that's tough to pick coming out of the hand are all valuable weapons for a death bowler.

As with “standard” cricket, T20 betting boasts standard markets like the winning team, top batter or bowler from each team, and over/under run markets for individual players and the team.

You can also bet on the number of boundaries a team will hit, while many new betting sites will have a range of prop T20 cricket betting odds and markets on individual players, e.g., a bowler taking three or more wickets or a batter making a 50.

The top bowler is determined by the number of wickets taken, with runs conceded the first tie-breaker. This can be a volatile but popular cricket betting market with perceived weaker bowlers often benefitting from batters taking them on and getting themselves out. These risks also apply to the "top batter" betting market, with the likelihood of a player getting out due to a false shot much higher than in a one-day international or Test match, given the pressure to score quickly.

While T20 has always been marketed as a run-fest, a common mistake sports bettors make is placing too much emphasis on run-makers with their cricket betting strategy. In reality, spinners have performed very well over the years. Good batters can use the quick bowlers' pace while forcing the issue against a slow bowler, which can be dangerous, particularly on a pitch offering turn.