Bookie backs KP over OB

It's a tale of two Kevins for England and Ireland at the Cricket World Cup tomorrow, and bookmaker Blue Square are betting on which hard-hitting right-hander comes out on top.

Playing against the country of his birth, South Africa, they make Kevin Pietersen 4/11 in a run-scoring match bet with O'Brien (2/1), whose Irish side tackle tournament favourites India. The England opener is also 6/4 to hit more sixes than O'Brien who, despite clearing the ropes six times when the sides met during the week, can be backed at 9/4.

Blue Square's Neil Lucas explained, "O'Brien has already scored more runs (150-129) and hit more sixes (6-2) than Pietersen in the competition so far, but we're expecting that gap to close significantly this weekend. 'KP' loves playing against South Africa, while 'OB' will have to prove his match-winning innings against England was no fluke, a tough ask against India with their deafening home crowd in Bangalore. We'll happily take a bet on O'Brien to outperform Pietersen - it's a case of 'one swallow doesn't make a summer' as far as we're concerned."