England and New Zealand meet in a critical Group 1, Super 12 T20 World Cup match in Brisbane on Tuesday and we take a look at the game from a betting angle.
England are currently sitting 2nd on the log, level on points with Ireland and Australia, but with a superior run rate. Assuming rain doesn’t intervene by the time they play this match either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan would have moved above them on the table although having played a game more and Group 1 is certainly congested with a real battle on for 2nd place. I say 2nd place because it is hard to see New Zealand not making the playoffs after their strong start. They have won 2 and had one no result and have a positive net run rate of 3.8.
ENGLAND
England would have been very disappointed when their match against Australia was abandoned without a ball been bowled. They really needed to win that one having lost to Ireland in their previous game and that after beating Afghanistan by 5 wickets in their opener. The Irish match was shortened due to rain and Ireland had scored a 157 in their 20 overs with Livingstone and Wood both getting 3 wickets each. England never really got going and a late 24 not out by Moeen Ali off 12 balls wasn’t enough to see them home. Dawid Malan had top scored with 35, but off 37 balls and the value of that innings will surely be questionable.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand have looked the business in this World Cup and they have shortened into 3/1 second favourites behind India at 5/2. Click here for Outright Betting
They had opened their campaign with a comfortable 89 run victory over Australia before their game against Afghanistan was abandoned. They were then made to work hard by Sri Lanka before eventually winning comfortably by 65 runs. New Zealand had won the toss in that game and chose to bat and they were in some trouble early before a magnificent 104 off 64 balls by Glenn Phillips. The bowlers then did the rest getting Sri Lanka all out for 102 in pursuit of 168 for victory and Trent Boult was the pick of them with his 4 for 13 off 4 overs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These sides have met 22 times in T20 cricket with England winning 13 and New Zealand 8 and there has been 1 no result
BETTING – Click here to bet
England 4/7
New Zealand 29/20
Suggested Bet: New Zealand win at 29/20
I am battling to see why England are such firm favourites here given the way New Zealand have been playing. Yes, England probably need the win more, but New Zealand will be more than happy to beat them then in all likelihood send them crashing out of the Tournament.
Suggested Bet: New Zealand Top Bowler, Trent Boult at 23/10
Boult is absolutely on fire and he is the sort of guy I like to bet when on a good run. He bowls up front when players have a go at him during the power play and is incredibly hard to face at the end of an innings where he is also able to pick up wickets.
Suggested Bet: Player to hit the most 6’s, Allen at 5/1
Allen was absolutely on fire against Australia and we know he comes in at top of the order so has plenty of time at the crease and if he does hang around this is a man who knows how to clear the boundary.
Click here for all T20 Match Betting and Outright Markets
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change