Root in right form to send Aussies packing

ENGLAND will twice face the “old enemy” this weekend, with the football lads taking on Scotland at Hampden Park while the cricket team can dump Australia out of the ICC Champions Trophy with victory at Edgbaston this afternoon.

Eoin Morgan’s men have already qualified for the semifinals with convincing wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand, while the Aussies have endured two weather-affected games at Edgbaston and the Oval, both ending in a no-result.

They were well on course to beat Bangladesh on Monday but Mark Pearson on the ICC Champions Trophy last week against the Kiwis they were arguably saved by the elements.

It will be a small victory for England to send their arch-rivals packing and a bragging right ahead of the Ashes later this year. Joe Root (right) has topscored in both England games in this tournament, his 133 not out in the opener followed up by a decent 64.

He is 9-4 to top the run charts once more.

Opener Alex Hales has also hit two halfcenturies and is 3-1 to score most runs.

We will double the odds of the top scorer if they notch a century. Both teams are 10-11 to win the match. Tomorrow, India take on South Africa at the Oval in Group B, with the winners earning a semi-final berth and the loser going home. Virat Kohli’s men have posted two 300+ scores but were comfortably chased down by Sri Lanka on Thursday, once more at the Oval.

They take on a South Africa side who were denied by the complex Duckworth-Lewis method against Pakistan at Edgbaston but who were convincing winners over Sri Lanka in their opener.

India edge favouritism at 4-5 and can take the victory against South Africa, who are available at evens.