West Indies can book second straight World Twenty20 final

Sri Lanka stand in the way of West Indies and a second straight World Twenty20 final when the two sides clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The Sri Lankans are the top rated T20 side in the world but the Windies are everybody’s favourite cricket team after yet another successful tournament in the shortest format of the game.

Darren Sammy’s side play hard and party hard as their wins over Australia and Pakistan have shown and at evens they look an excellent price with Ladbrokes to reach the final.

A key part of this will be spinners Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree, who are ranked as number one and number two respectively in the ICC T20 bowling rankings.

Mystery spinner Narine – a major success in the IPL in recent seasons – is 10/1 to put in a man-of-the-match display against the Sri Lankans, while Badree, who has opened the bowling for his side during the tournament, is 12/1.

Both starred in the 84-run win over Pakistan with three wickets a piece and it could pay to back them both to take over 1.5 wickets in this semi-final at 11/8 (Badree) and 11/10 (Narine).

Despite excellent bowling options, it is more than likely that the West Indies batting, featuring the likes of Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy will be the component in any Caribbean success.

Gayle is one of the most destructive batsmen in the game and his partnership with Dwayne Smith has not fired at all frequently in recent matches, but with Bravo and Sammy down the order there is plenty of firepower in reserve.

This was proved when they put on a partnership of 69 in double quick time against the Pakistanis after the top order had failed.

Bravo is also 12/1 to produce another match winning performance and win his second straight man-of-the match award and with his bowling also an option for his captain, he looks a safe pick.

While the West indies are the talk of the town out in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka are not easy to write off.

With elegant stroke players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangkarra and skilfull bowlers such as Lasith Malinga and Anjintha Mendis, they have the tools to win and are the 4/5 favourites with Ladbrokes.

But another Sri Lankan to watch is Rangana Herath after he recorded the third best figures in international T20 history with 5-3 against New Zealand.

The 36-year-old is 6/4 to be in the wickets again and take over 1.5 West Indies wickets.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.