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Australia triumphed in each of the four games they played against NZ in the CB Series, but can Fleming's boys make a bold statement with the World Cup fast approaching? Reading have drawn at home to United, away to Chelsea and scored three times at Anfiel

Cricinfo staff
15-Feb-2007
Australia triumphed in each of the four games they played against NZ in the CB Series, but can Fleming's boys make a bold statement with the World Cup fast approaching? Reading have drawn at home to United, away to Chelsea and scored three times at Anfield this season. Is an upset on the cards?
Is more misery in store for Spurs or can they turn it around at Craven Cottage? With a £100 cash bonus on offer to all new Sporting Index clients** (more details below), it's a perfect time to open an account. We've taken a look at some of the prices (see preview below) - new clients can claim a great opening offer:
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NZ v Australia: 1st ODI (Friday: 01.00 Sky Sports 1)
The three match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series begins in Wellington and the win of the toss could determine the result. The three matches that were played at the Westpac Stadium were all won by the team batting first. That doesn't deter Sporting Index from predicting a win for Australia and has them to win by 17-27 points in the supremacy market. If the team batting first wins the game, they're awarded one point for each run they win by, with the team batting second given 10 points for each wicket they win by.
The 50-Ups market will grab some attention on a pitch that has seen some decent totals recently. This gives the punter a chance to bet on the aggregate total of players' runs over 50. So if Fleming hits 60, Oram 100 and Watson 80 the result would be 90. Sporting Index is quoting a spread of 68-75. Hayden struck 117 against NZ in the CB Series and his 50-Ups spread is 9-11. Symonds may be recovering from injury (he's hit 10 sixes at this ground!), but there are plenty of other big-hitters capable of clearing the boundary ropes.
Sporting Index reckon there'll be 6-6.5 sixes in the match. With Ponting and Gilchrist rested ahead of the World Cup, Hayden, Hussey and Hodge represent the Aussies in the Big Shots market. 25 points are awarded for each six they hit and Sporting Index gives a spread of 32-40.
Shane Watson's inclusion in the World Cup squad has been questioned by Shane Warne, but the all-rounder's performance market could be attractive for buyers. He opened effectively in the ICC tournament and may be asked to reprise that role again. Sporting Index has him at 55-60 (one point per run, 10 point per catch, 20 point per wicket and 25 point for a stumping).
Man United v Reading (Saturday: 17.15 BBC1)
Fergie would've been pleased to land a home draw but Portsmouth troubled them in the previous draw and Reading should be a testing bunch. They've won their last five games in all competitions and netted 13 goals in the process. Sporting Index will be keeping a close eye on the free scoring Royals and reckon they'll score 0.65-0.85 goals.
They're on a convincing run and unbeaten in eight games. However the Red Devils were ironically the last team to beat them 3-2 back in December. Having won their last 10 games at home in all competitions, Sporting Index predict United to win this by a 1.3-1.5 margin.
Having played out a five-goal thriller recently, the total goals market should attract a fair few hits. Sporting Index reckons there'll be 2.8-3.0 total goals at Old Trafford. How many of those will be scored by the mesmerising Ronaldo? He found the back of the net twice when these two met six weeks ago, and Sporting Index can see him grabbing the headlines for the right reasons and quote a goal minutes spread of 24-27. Leroy Lita has five goals in his last four games and could be a cheeky buy for a few punters with a goal minutes spread of 9-12.
Fulham v Tottenham (Sunday: 16.00 Sky Sports 1)
Oh dear, it's all looking glum for Spurs. Can they perform under pressure and gain a result at the Cottage?
Chimbonda rescued them with a late equaliser in January cancelling out Montella's penalty. Given that both goals were scored in the last 10 minutes of the match, Sporting Index's total goal minutes spread of 115-125 should catch the punters' eye. So should the time of 1st match goal with Sporting Index predicting the first goal between the 39th and 42nd minute. Could that find favour with the buyers?
That was the only piece of good fortune Spurs have managed to strike at Fulham as the four games prior to that have all ended in defeat. Unsurprisingly, the advantage is with Coleman's men and Sporting Index predicts them to shade it by 0-0.2 goals. There have been only four goals in their last four encounters giving sellers much to think about when looking at the total goals spread of 2.3-2.5 goals.
Having conceded nine goals in three games, Fulham's attack will be licking their lips. Helguson's aerial presence might cause jitters in a Spurs defence missing King and his goal minutes spread is 12-15 minutes. Defoe is top scorer for Jol's side and England star is quoted at 14-17 on the goal minutes spread.
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