Cricket Betting Strategy: Twenty20 Cricket Betting

Rory Jiwani

April 20th, 2021

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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 in around three hours, it has widened the sport's appeal. It has also increased the appeal of cricket betting for punters who visit the best cricket betting sites for T20 markets and odds.

The proliferation of T20 cricket has seen the game's popularity grow worldwide, with cricket betting fast becoming one of the most popular sports to bet on. We've put together this T20 cricket betting strategy guide to offer betting tips for new and traditional cricket betting fans alike.

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T20 Cricket Basics

As is the case with any cricket match, a coin toss decides who will bat first and conditions, especially with matches often taking place in the evening under lights, will play a big part in the thinking of the winning captain. They can also impact the betting odds offered by the top sports betting sites on a given game.

In the first six overs, known as the powerplay, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-year 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, often slowing the run rate.

Bowlers will 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. Yorkers, deliveries out of the back of the hand, and slower bouncers are all used with greater regularity by pace bowlers, while spinners will 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 greater importance in T20 cricket. Pace, and variation of pace, plus a good yorker, or a slower ball which is difficult to spot coming out of the hand are all useful weapons for a death bowler.

What to Know About T20 Cricket Betting

As in 'normal' cricket betting, T20 betting boasts standard markets like 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 special 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. Those risks also apply to the 'top batter' betting market, with the likelihood of a player getting out due to a false shot far greater than in a one-day international or Test match, such is the need for quick runs.

While T20 has always been marketed as a run-fest, a common mistake made by punters is placing too much emphasis on run-makers with their cricket betting strategy. In reality, spinners have performed very well on the whole over the years and have impacted many a T20 betting strategy. Good batters can use the pace of the quick bowlers while they have to force the issue against a slow bowler - which can be dangerous, particularly on a pitch offering turn.

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T20 Cricket Betting Strategy

One important thing to consider with any cricket betting strategy is that the cream does rise to the top in T20 cricket. Therefore, an important betting strategy for betting on individual players in a T20 match is to look for specialists with good records in T20. The best T20 batters will either have excellent averages and good strike rates, or good averages and excellent strike rates, with the very best boasting both. The best bowlers will take the most wickets while not conceding too many runs.

Of course, any betting site will prohibitively price the best bowlers, so it is worth looking at alternatives at bigger prices available from the best betting apps. There are days when a team's top order will fail and someone making a quick 40 at number six could end up as the top scorer. Cricket betting tends to be a great option for fans of leading betting exchanges, so even if you're not happy with straight-up odds, there are chances to get some value in online cricket betting on the exchanges.

T20 offers punters the chance to bet before the match, but in-play betting adds to the excitement of betting on T20 cricket, with the latter lending itself to the game's extremely fast-moving nature. While top bowler markets are closed when the match starts, top batter markets do go in-play and the odds can fluctuate hugely.

For example, in the 2021 Hundred - a very similar format to T20 with 100 balls instead of T20 - John Simpson touched 50/1 in-play betting odds to be the Northern Superchargers' top batter against Manchester Originals, before making an unbeaten 71 off 28 balls. The Superchargers' next highest scorer was Dane Vilas with 36. A couple of quick wickets can change the complexion of a match entirely, so keeping an eye on the live odds at a recommended in-play betting site is a smart move.

The answer to the question 'What is a good score?' depends largely on the pitch and can be anything between 130 and 220. One inspired bowling spell or a cameo with the bat can make all the difference, but it is worth looking at previous scores at a ground to see what might be a good 'par' total.

Viewing previous matches is also advisable when considering the Number of Boundaries market and especially the Number of Sixes market. Some grounds have short boundaries, and others do not, so it is vital to take that into account.

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T20 World Cup Betting Odds

The 2021 T20 World Cup starts on October 17th and takes place in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Pitches in that part of the world are generally slow and conducive to spin, which should favour teams from the Indian subcontinent - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Most of the stars will have taken part in the recent IPL, also in the United Arab Emirates, so that should give a strong indicator as to player form. India's KL Rahul has been by far and away the best batter with an average of 62.60 in 13 innings at a strike rate of 138.8 at the time of writing.

Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel have been among the best bowlers for the tournament favourites, with Afghanistan mystery spinner Rashid Khan, South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada and West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo also excelling.

2021 T20 World Cup Outright Odds*

*Odds correct as of October 13, 2021