Gary Lemke looks ahead to an enthralling weekend of sports as the URC returns while the Cricket World Cups comes to a conclusion. This and more in this weekend’s Fiver!
FASCINATING CWC FINAL IN STORE
With 84 matches down, there’s the one to go. It could be argued that it’s the only game that counts at this Cricket World Cup. Will India, unbeaten in 10 tournament games, make it a perfect 11? Or will serial winners Australia go all the way despite losing two of their pool matches. Their nervy three-wicket win against the Proteas in the semi-finals suggests the hosts India are deserved favourites and they will be hard to beat. They are strong in all departments – batting, fielding and their fast and spin bowling departments. But, this isa World Cup final. And Australia are there. Bring it on
A shot at #CWC23 glory 💎🏆 pic.twitter.com/0q5NemHQ5I
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 17, 2023
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION IN VEGAS
With 18 races down, and just two to go, this weekend’s Formula One season is the pre-cursor to the final curtain coming down in Abu Dhabi. It’s been a season whereby Max Verstappen has turned things into a procession, in fact, the term “title race” didn’t exist this year. He has won 15 of those 18 races and you just have to sit back and applaud his brilliance, despite the one-sided nature of events. However, this weekend’s Las Vegas GP feels a bit different. It’s a Saturday night race held on the famous strip in Nevada and in a gambler’s paradise it promises to be a proper spectacle. If you’re up in the early hours of Sunday morning, don’t miss it, if only because it’s new on the calendar.
My message to Max Verstappen. Lighten up Francis. This place is a blast! Beautiful night as well —not cold -at all. pic.twitter.com/aXtkPl5pZY
— Michel (@Mic_VegasSphere) November 17, 2023
TOUGH URC TASK FOR SA’S 3 AWAY SIDES
The United Rugby Championship is now in full swing and there are a few formlines that one can follow. The Hollywoodbets Sharks had a disappointing overseas campaign, but they’re now back on home turn and will start to get some of their big names back in the fold. However, they’ve had bad news with long-term injuries to their World Cup heroes, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch. They should beat visiting Connacht though. The other South African sides in action are all overseas and both the Lions (at Ulster) and the Stormers (at Munster) are certain to find things difficult. The Bulls’ trip to Edinburgh is not quite as daunting, but it’s still a big ask for them in this beautiful Scottish city.
Round 5 #BKTURC fixtures comin' hot 💪💥
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 16, 2023
Which Round 5 fixture are you most nervous for? 👀😬#URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/mgtQydXYCm
RACING CALM BEFORE NEXT WEEK’S STORM
There’s some decent horses turned out at Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Durbanville this weekend, although next weekend is the big one, with the running of the Summer Cup at the Big T, Gauteng’s marquee event on their annual calendar. We will also see the rising star Sandringham Summit in the Dingaans. But that’s next week. This week Durbanville will host its final weekend meeting of the season, with excitement about heading back to a renovated Hollywoodbets Kenilworth next week. I’ve had a look at the Durbanville card and feel that the win double with Qhawekazi and Gimmethepearl in arcs 3 and 4, might be the way to make a few rands, at around 13/2.
FIRE UP THOSE BETTING ACCUMULATORS!
There’s an International break in the English Premiership, which means that players now pull on their country, rather than club shirts. There are plenty of 2025 World Cup qualifiers, and also a full round of Euro 2024 Championship qualifiers. As a betting person, this is a great weekend to visit Hollywoodbets and stack up your accumulators. There are something like 30 Euro qualifiers, 48 World Cup qualifiers and a few dozen friendlies and other competitions. South Africa play Benin on Saturday and are odds-on to win at home, while if you’re an England supporter, it will be just a matter of how many goals they win by when they take on minnows Malta.
🇵🇹💥 Cristiano Ronaldo registers his 865th career goal vs Liechtenstein in EURO '24 qualifiers! ✨ pic.twitter.com/ENdatgLCNm
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 16, 2023
