The T20 series between New Zealand and West Indies gets along at a rattling rate with the second match of the five taking place on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the tourists drew first blood in the opening game in Auckland on Wednesday.
West Indies have an immediate chance to go two up with three to play in a series where both teams will be looking to find some confidence and something to build from ahead of the rapidly approaching T20 World Cup.
New Zealand
You would have thought that at the halfway point of the opening match, New Zealand would really have fancied their chances of getting the job done. They had restricted West Indies to a score which barely looked like par regardless of the situation but particularly with the batting depth that the Kiwis have. In truth, the run chase never really got going and in the end they fell much shorter of the target than it looked by the end with some big hits in the last couple of overs putting some gloss on the scoreboard.
It goes without saying that New Zealand will need to bat much better in this match, especially in the middle overs, should they want to level the series and not leave themselves having to win the last three matches to come out on top. There was enough in the pitch for the Kiwi bowlers and they exploited it well in the main but the one thing they will be keen to improve on is the nine wides they gave up. In a match they ended up losing by seven runs that ended up being the difference.
West Indies
When you consider that West Indies were playing their first match of the tour and it came less than a week after they concluded a T20 series in Bangladesh where the conditions were the opposite of what they faced in Auckland, the tourists will be delighted to have drawn first blood and now they will hope to show the natural improvement that everyone would expect them to have having had a match to acclimatise to conditions. If they do that then there is nothing stopping them from going two up with three to play in the series.
We didn’t really see the pyrotechnics that West Indies can deliver with the bat. Some of that was down to a quality bowling effort from New Zealand but there was certainly an element of the Windies batters getting used to the extra bounce and now that they know what to expect in that regard, we should expect a stronger batting effort for them. If they can then replicate how they went with the ball in that first game then they are going to be very tough to beat.
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Team News
There is a school of thought that New Zealand will give the same XI another go and ask them to perform better, especially with the bat, but Mitchell Hay is waiting should they wish to alter their batters. Nathan Smith could also lengthen the batting without losing too much with the ball.
West Indies surprisingly left Sherfane Rutherford out of the opening game of the series but with Ackeem Auguste looking a little out of sorts it might be that a straight switch happens for this second game. Shamar Springer could come in if a bowler can’t go again in successive days.
Betting
I thought that West Indies might have needed the run in that opening game on Wednesday but as it turned out they didn’t, although I think it is fair to say that there is more to come from them. I certainly wouldn’t put anyone off backing them again because now they have tasted conditions with the bat I definitely expect them to be more brutal in that department here but you do wonder if a couple of their aging players can back up with the ball less than 24 hours after the first game.
With that in mind, I’ll play West Indies to hit the most sixes in this one. I’m amazed we can get even money when you consider the reputation of the two teams let alone when you look at the actually batting units. West Indies had Romario Shepherd in at eight in the first game and Matthew Forde and Akeal Hosein, the next two in, can wield the willow. New Zealand have Michael Bracewell at six and I’m not sure he’s the sort of hitter who will finish an innings with huge blows. He only has 17 sixes in 29 T20s and when you consider the small grounds he plays on at home that isn’t great. West Indies looked bang on it with the ball on Wednesday. They won the sixes battle 7-5 in that match and I see no reason why they won’t plunder more sixes here and win it again.
Tips
Back West Indies Most 6s for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Betway
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