WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

The Ashes, Women’s World Cup, and Group racing from York and Ascot are the pick of the weekend’s action, but before that, we look back over the last few days to bring you three big winning spread bets from European football, Test cricket and Super League.

Please remember Spread betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses larger than your initial stake/deposit. They may not be suitable for everyone so please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.

SRI LANKA v PAKISTAN – PAKISTAN 1^ST INNINGS RUNS (SETTLED AT 575)

Whilst most of the eyes in the Test cricket world are focussed on the fifth and final Ashes clash, Pakistan have been busy taking Sri Lanka to the cleaners over in Colombo.

The hosts batted first and were skittled for 166 before Babar Azam’s side got to work. Led by opening batsman Abdullah Shafique who scored 201 from 333 deliveries before finally being dismissed, the tourists reached a score of 576-5 before declaring. They duly rattled through the Sri Lankan second innings with experienced spinner Nauman Ali taking the top seven in the order as Pakistan secured a huge win.

There were some good wins over the Test, those buying Shafique 1^st Innings Runs won 153x their stake, those selling Kusal Mendis runs in both innings made a decent profit, but those who bought Pakistan 1^st Innings Runs at 372-387 won 188x their stake.

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS v HULL FC – TOTAL TRY MINUTES (SETTLED AT 150)

Even in this topsy-turvy Super League season, defeat last night for Hull FC at the John Smith’s Stadium probably spelled the end of their play-off hopes and just about keeps big-spending Huddersfield Giants in the mix.

It was do or die for both sides last night in West Yorkshire and the match was finely poised at half time as both sides had two converted tries on the scoreboard which was locked at 12-12. There needed to be a spark of inspiration to break the deadlock and it came from an unlikely source as veteran forward Chris Hill produced a deft pass to send namesake Chris McQueen racing through.

A drop goal from Oliver Russell secured the two points for the Giants, but with McQueen’s try the only one in the second half it was good news for sellers of Total Try Minutes. Before kick-off, the spread was 299-320 but the market settled at 150 as sellers landed a win of 149x their stake.

ZALGIRIS v GALATASARAY – SHIRTS x BOOKINGS (SETTLED AT 10140)

The early qualifying rounds of European competitions are a curious phenomenon with minnows coming up against former giants, sides you have never heard of before popping up and plenty of shocks as sides look to make the group stages.

On Wednesday, Turkish giants Galatasaray travelled to Vilnius to face the crème-de-la-crème of Lithuanian football: Zalgiris. Two goals in three second half minutes looked to have given Gala a comeback win, but home forward Donatas Kazlaukas (wearing shirt number nine) scored an injury time winner before getting a second yellow card for removing his shirt.

With plenty of other cards shown and Zalgiris forward Mathias Oyewusu Kehinde opening the scoring wearing shirt number 99 it was certainly a day to buy Shirts x Bookings. Small stakes are always recommended on a volatile spread like this which was 4400-4800 beforehand, but those who bought saw the spread settle at 10140 as they pocketed a win of 5340x their stake.

Please note that these are examples of winning bets from the past week, and it is important to remember that spread betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses larger than your initial stake/deposit.