This week, the T20 World Cup in India is entering the semi-finals stage, and the Formula One season is opening with a big Australia GP. And we’ve got the latest tips and betting offers for both in the latest edition of Round the World in Five Minutes!
Cricket T20 World Cup Semi-Finals
- Start: 4-5 March, both at 13:30 UK time
- Venue: Kolkata and Mumbai
- Coverage: Sky Sports Cricket, Star Sports Network.
- Fun fact: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan wrapped up his ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in record-breaking fashion - 383 runs at an average of 76.60, eclipsing Kohli’s previous record of 319 runs set during the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Betting Tips
This has been one of the best and most memorable T20 World Cups to date. Highlights included impressive performances from underrated teams like Italy and Zimbabwe, ferocious six-hitting from most sides, packed stadiums for all games and a match between South Africa and Afghanistan that needed not one, but two Super Overs to settle the matter.
And when all is said and done, the four teams making up the semi-finals are, with their price to win the whole tournament in brackets: India (2.1), South Africa (3.4), England (5.00 and New Zealand (6.0).
First up on Wednesday is South Africa (1.57) against New Zealand (2.38). South Africa have the distinction of being the only side that’s unbeaten so far this tournament, beating Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 game on Sunday to maintain that record.
But there are two possible barriers to making a second consecutive T20 WC final.
The first is their reputation as a team that hasn’t always handled the pressure of the biggest games in the past. The second is that they decided to rest three crucial players in Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Marco Jensen in their previous game. Yes, they'll be fresh for this game, but was it the right idea to mess with a settled XI just for the sake of it?
New Zealand is also an extremely solid team. In Matt Henry, they have one of the world’s premium fast bowlers, who has a habit of taking wickets in the first over. He’s 4.33 to be the Kiwis’ top wicket-taker, and that looks a pretty good price.
Rabada and Maharaj, two of the ‘rested’ men for South Africa, are 4.33 and 5.0 in the South Africa top-wicket taker market. Jansen. Who is also a very useful batsman, could be of interest at 14.0 to be Player of the Match.
In the other semi-finals, India are the 1.5 favourites to beat 2.63 England.
India needed to overcome a few scares on Sunday against the West Indies just to make it this far and have Sanju Samson and his under-pressure 97 off 50 to thank for that win. Predictably, he was Player of the Match in that one and is 12.0 for a repeat of that, and 5.0 just to be India's Top Batsman.
Remarkably, England’s Will Jacks has won four Player of the Match awards in seven games; that’s the most ever by a player in a World Cup, and it’s not even over yet.
In addition to home advantage, India have an impressive 17-12 head-to-head record in T20Is against England, so you can see why they’re the favourites.
But England bat very deep, have been excellent from a tactical perspective, and have handled the pressure moments well, so they have a good chance of an upset.
The smart money is on the winner of this match going on to win the tournament.
Formula One World Championship and Australian Grand Prix
- Start: March 6, race day is Sunday, March 8
- Venue: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia
- Coverage: Sky Sports, beIN Sports, Apple TV
- Fun fact: Before Melbourne, the Australian Grand Prix was held in Adelaide (1985–1995), often as the dramatic season finale rather than as the season opener.
Betting
It’s been a long, old wait to hear those engines roaring and see the planet’s best drivers of a racing car doing their stuff, if you’re a Formula One fan. But the wait is over as we head to Melbourne for the opening race of the F1 season.
Off the track, 2026 promises notable technical changes, with updates anticipated in power unit regulations that aim to increase electric power deployment and reduce costs, while further improving sustainability and racing spectacle. The cost cap continues to play a major role in maintaining competitive balance among teams in the organisers’ attempts to make it a more level playing field.
On the track, George Russell is the man to beat in terms of the Championship as a whole, available as the 3.0 favourite.
Team-mate Kimi Antonelli is out at 7.5. Orace Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen is 4.33 with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari available at 6.0.
It says a thing or two about the sign of the times that Leclerc’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record-equaling seven World Championships, is a bigger price than him at 8.0.
Things could be tight for the Constructor’s Championship: Mercedes are 2.3, Ferrari and McLaren are both 3.6, and Red Bull can be backed at 8.0.
Russell is the same price at 3.0 as he is for the Championship as a whole, to draw first blood in Melbourne, with the race win. Verstappen is next at 4.5, Leclerc 5.0 and the Ferrari duo of Hamilton and Antonelli at 8.0.
The Australian Grand Prix is a semi-permanent street circuit built around Albert Park Lake, blending public roads with purpose-built sections. The track measures 5.278 km and features 14 corners, with a mix of high-speed straights and flowing medium-speed bends.
There have been some layout tweaks in recent years that have made it faster and more overtaking-friendly, changes that have obviously been popular with fans. Drivers must balance aggression with precision, as walls and gravel punish mistakes. One of those, and you could easily be out of the race.
The scenic lakeside setting and lively city atmosphere make it one of the most popular stops on the F1 calendar for drivers and fans alike.
Bet of the Week: Back Matt Henry to be New Zealand Top Bowler against South Africa
We had a good winner last week at 2.1 in predicting that Bodo Glimt would knock out Inter Milan in the Champions League, and they did so with plenty to spare, going through 5-2 on aggregate.
This week, we’re going with that man Matt Henry to be New Zealand’s top bowler at 4.33. He’s had a good rather than brilliant tournament so far by his sky-high standards, but he has something in his armour that will trouble any batsman in the world: raw pace.
Besides, like all the best sportspeople in the world, he often saves his best performances for the biggest occasions on the biggest stages. And this is one of those. Let’s hope so.
