The T20 series between New Zealand and Australia continues on Friday when the two sides head from Wellington to Auckland for the middle match of the three, one which offers Australia the first chance to land the spoils.
That is because Australia won the opening game of the series so they can go two up with one to play if they win here. New Zealand need to win to force a decider, although the overall picture is further progression towards the World Cup in June.
New Zealand
New Zealand could be considered favourites to win the opening game of the series when they had posted a monster score but they just couldn’t defend it on a ground where to be fair it is very hard to defend anything when the wicket is particularly good for batting like the one which was played on in the opening game was. They battled hard and a spell from Lockie Ferguson almost got the job done but in the end they went down in a thrilling contest.
It might be that New Zealand need to go even bigger with the bat in this match because this is likely to be a higher scoring match than the first one. The one thing which is in the advantage of New Zealand in this match is that they are used to the dimensions of this ground whereas most of the venues in Australia, with the exception of Perth, are nothing like what they play on here. This is the kind of ground where even one good over with the ball can be significant.
Australia
I guess Australia were going to need a game to be sharp in this series when you consider that they have brought a number of players back into their squad for it so the fact that they won the opening game will be a real boost. Australia will go to the T20 World Cup later in the year as one of the leading contenders, especially if their big hitters go there in decent enough form like they showed in that opening clash.
When you look at the sort of side Australia can put out there is no reason why they shouldn’t be favourites to win the World Cup. They made 216/4 in that first game and still had Matthew Short who didn’t get into bat while the likes of Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie weren’t even in the squad in that game. Their bowlers have had a match to shake any white ball rust of so it would be a surprise if we don’t see them going better here.
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Team News
Tim Southee was only named in the squad for the opening match. He might not have played any further part in the series anyway when you consider he took 0/52 but Trent Boult is back for this match and is likely to come in for him.
It will be interesting to see if Australia keep with the same side or whether they want to rotate their bowling attack with this being the second game in just over 48 hours. If they want to switch things then Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis are waiting in the wings.
Betting
There has already been one T20 international at this Eden Park venue this summer and it was a high scoring one when New Zealand took on Pakistan and 226/8 played 180 all out. That match had 22 sixes in it and that makes me think that we are going to run up a high number of maximums in this match. I certainly wouldn’t want to bet on the game before I know the outcome of the toss because this ground is very hard to defend so it is the sixes for me.
The line here is 18.5, which would have looked on the low side anyway when you consider that there were 30 sixes on a bigger ground in Wellington on Wednesday. There were also 21 sixes on this ground last year when the Kiwis took on Sri Lanka, who aren’t a renowned big hitting side whereas Australia very much are. I would be very surprised if the sixes total for this one doesn’t come into the 20s number. Mishits down the ground can go for sixes here given the dimensions of this venue but there is enough brute power for even the bigger boundaries to get peppered. I have to like the over in this one.
Tips
Back Over 18.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betway
