We are reaching crunch time in the T20 series between New Zealand and England, which after three matches has already swayed one way and then the other and when the two sides meet for the fourth game of the five in Napier on Friday plenty is on the line.
New Zealand scrambled a 2-1 lead in the third match in Nelson on Tuesday and a win here will see them secure the series before the finale in Auckland at the weekend. If England are to make that last match competitive they have to win here.
New Zealand
There wasn’t a huge amount about New Zealand’s performance in the last game that was convincing but to be fair to them when the door was left open they didn’t just ease through it, they blasted it off its hinges, turning around what looked like a certain and tame defeat and coming away with a fine win. They will know that they need to perform better in this match if they are to get the same outcome but winning confidence is a big thing in sport.
It is with the bat that New Zealand need to improve but that is nothing new as they spent the majority of the 50 over World Cup in England needing to do the same thing but invariably getting over the line regardless. The positive for New Zealand is they have defended largely average totals in the last two matches so if they do bat well here there is a good chance they are going to come out on top.
England
I would imagine England will still be kicking themselves at coughing up victory in the previous match. There is an argument to be had that they should be 3-0 up in the series given how their bowlers have performed in the three games thus far but that is not the case and they find themselves having to win the last two matches if they are going to come out on top. This might be an experimental England side but they will have had hopes on winning the series nonetheless.
If England are going to force a deciding match then their senior players need to follow the job through and get it done. Dawid Malan had England in control in Wellington but got out and both Eoin Morgan and James Vince did the same in Nelson last time out. Getting into the winning positions hasn’t been the problem. Converting them has become an issue and that is a trend they won’t want to continue.
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Team News
Trent Boult is back for the final two matches of the series with the workload of Lockie Ferguson being managed. That will be a straight swap while the remainder of the side could be unchanged for this fourth game.
The England team is a little harder to predict but you wouldn’t think there is a place for Matt Parkinson at Eden Park so he might get another chance here. Tom Banton hasn’t come out here for one knock so I expect him to stay in. I’d be surprised if Chris Jordan doesn’t come in, possibly for Saqib Mahmood.
Betting
I’m expecting a relatively high scoring match here where the boundaries are likely to be peppered. As with all New Zealand rugby grounds used for cricket the boundaries here at McLean Park are on the smaller side, especially square of the wicket and both teams have a lot of batsmen who can adjust their game to target the square offerings.
By and large in this series we have seen high scoring matches. I’m a little surprised they haven’t been higher scoring than they have been but both batting line ups are warmed up nicely now and in conditions that should be perfect for batting I am expecting a lot of boundaries. The line is only 41.5 here and that feels too low for me. I’ll take the over.
Tips
WON – Back Over 41.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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