Australia v West Indies: Watson to outshine Gayle in key clash

Australia and the West Indies prepare to lock horns for a crack at the lifting their first World T20 crown, but it’s difficult to look past the former who have been the tournament’s stand-out performers so far.

The Aussie’s are a 4/6 shot to book the second final berth and, given the way they’ve dominated with bat and ball in Sri Lanka, they’re well worth lumping on.

The key battle in this clash will be at the top of the order, where both teams will look to their star players – Shane Watson and Chris Gayle – to make a mark on the game.

Gayle is a T20 superstar whose power is such he can easily whack a couple of balls into the car park, yet it’s his Australian adversary who will make more waves in this one based on current form.

The Aussie’s opening pair have racked up at total of 372 runs at an average of 46.50 in five matches this tournament, 122 runs more than their West Indian counterparts, who also have an inferior strike rate.

The chances of Watson and partner David Warner outscoring the West Indian openers are excellent and, with just a 1.5 run handicap, Ladbrokes are offering fantastic value at 5/6.

On an individual level, there isn’t much to separate the pair. Watson has more T20 international runs, but Gayle has the superior average. However, should the Australians bat first, statistics say the former will outshine the latter with the bat.

Gayle has struggled when chasing down a total, managing just 310 runs, clearly uncomfortable with keeping up with the run-rate early doors. Watson, in contrast, has racked up 404 runs when the Aussie’s have been setting the pace, at an average of just under 27.

So, if the Aussies are the first to take to the middle, get on Watson, who has a 2.5-run cushion added to his score, to win the matchbet with the hard-swinging West Indian at 5/6.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date