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Cricket betting tips: England v New Zealand
- England Highest Opening Partnership @ 4/5 with Betway
- Tim Southee Top Bowler @11/2 with Bet365
- Jos Buttler Over 26.5 Runs @ Evens with BetUK
UK betting sites are backing England to claim a comfortable opening victory in the first of their four-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand on Wednesday.
England haven’t played New Zealand in the 20-over game since claiming a 20-run victory in last year’s T20 World Cup group stage.
Jos Buttler’s troops went on to win the trophy and since then the team’s only T20 series was a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in March – hardly a barometer for what to expect this summer.
New Zealand have, at least, prepared for this series with a 2-1 victory over UAE in mid-August. They also played Worcester and Gloucester in pre-series friendlies over the past few days. But the fact they lost the second match to UAE by seven wickets hints at what may be to come in this four-match series against the world champions.
Betfred already have England as the 8/11 favourites to win this series and reckon there’s a one-in-five chance of it being a 4-0 sweep at odds of 7/2.
A number of New Zealanders have been plying their trade in The Hundred, getting their eye in on the late-summer English wickets. However, it’s unlikely to be enough to give the tourists the edge they need.
England vs New Zealand T20 odds and start time
The first T20 between England vs New Zealand starts at 6pm on Wednesday 30 August. England are 4/9 favourites with online bookmakers to win the match, which takes place at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
Below, we explain our three cricket betting tips for the first T20 match of the series.
Bet on England highest opening partnership
England’s bowling attack may be blunted but their top order is still pretty solid and should get the hosts off to a decent start.
The Riverside is generally a batter-friendly wicket but England will need to be wary of the swinging new ball. Get through the opening few overs and openers Buttler and Harry Brook should form a good partnership. That is, assuming Buttler opens.
It’s likely that Chad Bowes and Tim Seifert will open for New Zealand, with Devon Conway further down. Conway has been batting well for Southern Brave in The Hundred, while Seifert and Bowes have fared well in recent warm-up matches for this series.
However, England will feel they have the stronger opening partnership and Brook has a point to prove after being omitted from the World Cup squad. He and Buttler could well thrive here.
Tip: England highest opening partnership at 4/5 with Betway
Pick Southee to be top bowler
England are without bowlers Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood, John Turner and Chris Woakes for this match.
They still have Sam Curran and Chris Jordan to provide the firepower, and Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali to offer spin, but if you’re looking for a stand-out bowling performance this Wednesday then Tim Southee is likely a smart pick.
Southee failed to grab a wicket in his last outing against the UAE as Ben Lister stole the show. But the 34-year-old, who has been throwing it around for London Spirit in the Hundred this summer, is primed to shine here.
Southee averaged 23.38 in T20 internationals and is streets ahead of his fellow pacemen in terms of experience and numbers. He is well priced to be the top wicket taker at Chester-le-Street even if his team don’t win.
Tip: Southee to take most wickets at 11/2 with Bet365
Back Jos Buttler over 26.5 runs
Buttler has a pretty strong record against New Zealand in T20 internationals. His batting average against them is 39.71 and his last five T20 outings have yielded scores of 80, 26, 67, four and 40. Bar a blip against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Buttler has been steady at the crease.
He comes into this series having steered Manchester Originals to the Hundred final to end a tournament where he scored three half-centuries in the 100-over format. That includes the 82 blasted against Southern Brave at The Oval.
England will need Buttler to set the early pace here and he’s in good form. BetUK reckon he’s evens (1/1) to score +26.5 runs, which should be straightforward considering he’s averaged 51 against New Zealand in his two T20 clashes with the Black Caps post Covid.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
