The third ODI between New Zealand and India takes place in Mount Maunganui on Monday and the home side head into it knowing they have to win to keep the series alive after a disappointing result in the previous match on Saturday.
India have breezed through both the ODIs thus far and if they can win on Monday they will have the series won and can then begin to look towards working on different personnel and combinations for the World Cup.
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New Zealand
Not a lot has gone right for the New Zealand side in this series so far but their batting is going to cause them a concern sooner or later. If they are going to keep proceedings alive then they are surely going to have to find a way to build partnerships against the Indian spin bowlers. If they can do that and get them under pressure we might see the tourists wobble.
One of the problems that the Kiwis have though is they are not getting through the Indian top order and if you allow them to settle in, in any conditions, you are likely to pay a heavy price. Normally you would say that being competitive would be a start for the home side but they have no time for that. They need to start winning which brings its own pressure so they are bang in trouble.
India
India have picked up two emphatic victories in this series so far but the crazy thing is that they haven’t been at their very best and that will give them plenty of confidence to take into the final three matches. Although there is room for improvement from them, they haven’t really shown a weakness in the first two outings.
India will be especially delighted with how they have bowled in this series. This is a dangerous New Zealand batting line up if you let them get on top and at no stage really have they allowed that to be the case. Their spinners have been particularly good and that in turn is allowing the new ball bowlers to go on the attack knowing the spin will pull the Kiwis back should they get away so the tourists look hard to beat here.
Team News
New Zealand need to do something about their batting but they problem they have is that they don’t really have any other options. Given that is the case don’t be surprised if Colin de Grandhomme goes up the order to try and hit the India bowlers off their rhythm.
India have confirmed that they will be changing things for the last two ODIs but they will hope to win the series with most likely an unchanged side here ahead of those switches being made. Hardik Pandya is available again and could come in if wanted.
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Betting
I took under 570.5 runs here on Saturday and that landed safely enough and I’m going to take the same bet in this match albeit on a slightly lower line. I don’t mind sacrificing a few runs as this is the second time in three days the wicket has been played on so in theory it should be harder to score on and there should be even more turn.
The line is now 559.5 which would need both sides to score 280 if the chasing side wins and based on what we’ve seen in the series to date I don’t see that happening. New Zealand haven’t looked like making 250 in the series yet so barring a severe turnaround from what we’ve seen thus far, and with this match only 40hrs or so after the last one I don’t see that, the under should land here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 559.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with TLCBet
Back it here:
