STANFORD SUPERSTARS V ENGLAND
Saturday 1st November 21:30 BMT

After much debate and controversy we have reached the finale of a mini-carnival of cricket solely focused on one thing; Hard cash!!

Now not to detract from what could be an exciting contest for viewers, I must say that this same aim should be taken by any astute punter. Try and find where to get some hard cash of your own to beat any economic slowdown!

Having limped their way through two matches without any real air of authority or confidence, England are running into a team that pulverised Middlesex (England's present Twenty20 Champions and so-called premier team) without their main two players getting a substantial score on the board. Chris Gayle and Shiv Chanderpaul were both gotten cheaply but this served to give the perfect platform for Andre Fletcher and Kieron Pollard to showcase their respective explosive bats. The former played a brilliant knock to score 90 not out and set up a sizable team total of 173 on what was admittedly a much improved deck.

England have made a slightly bizarre decision to drop Jimmy Anderson for this contest and given that Anderson has probably been the in the team throughout recent resurgences in the shorter formats of the game and can get crucial swing early on this must surely be a boost for the West Indians.

Captain Kevin Pietersen has gone against his own nature in choosing to pick the extra spinner in Graeme Swann and he will be hoping that the gamble pays off, literally!
I would have priced this one up as a pick-em really at 1.83 either side but it seems that the bookmakers have not heeded the warning signs that have been displayed to them in the shape of the performances of either side in the build up as the 2.2 offered by Boylesports on the Superstars is generous to say the least.

Being top scorer in these contests usually it helps to be batting in the top five of your side’s line-up and the same should apply here so bear this in mind when making top run scorer selections.
Owais Shah is arguably the most accomplished Twenty20 batsmen in the England line-up as he has a good record in the format and is a present domestic champion, couple this with his prime batting slot of number three and you have a good recipe for success. At 7 the value on him getting England's most runs is huge.

On a final note in relation to sixes hit by either side, when you consider that there are probably about fifteen players set to take to the field on Saturday night capable of hitting the ball out of the park, an over 9 sixes mark is easily gettable.
 
RECOMMENDATIONS -
4 Points Stake on Stanford Superstars @ 2.2 (Boylesports)
3 Points Stake on Over 9.5 Sixes Hit @ 2 (Bluesq )
0.5 Points Stake on Shah Top England Batsmen @ 7 (William Hill)

Crafty Stan