After a month of action, we are down to two remaining sides in the ICC Cricket World Cup. England went in as host nation and antepost betting favourites. Australia were defending champions but had been written off by traders on the back of a woeful year both on and off the field of play. Here are our top England v New Zealand betting tips.
England done as expected and blazed a trail of glory all the way to the final, but they won’t face one of the leaders in the betting. Instead, the locals will be joined by New Zealand who have impressed in every match so far. The Kiwis fully deserve their shot at glory and go into the decider with confidence to burn. Will they finish the job?
Lord’s Will be Packed to the Rafters
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final takes place on Sunday morning with a 10.30am start time. The match will be played to a conclusion at Lord’s in London, weather permitting, live on Sky Sports. The stands will be packed to the rafters, the teams will be ready to do battle and the live TV cameras ensure armchair fans have everything they need to enjoy the show.
Punters are also covered with all major bookmakers offering a flood of exciting betting markets. Mark the occasion with a wager on the outcome. Keep it simple and call the match winner or play one of the many specials, such as top batsman, top bowler, a century to be scored and highest first 15 overs. You can even pick sides in the coin toss, with 10/11 offered on each of the two possible outcomes. Not a market to get excited about but it has the potential to boost your balance before a ball has been bowled or bat swung in anger.
The outcome of this match has kept fans guessing. Some prefer to side with home advantage and an England team who are good enough to beat anyone when at their best. Others see no joy in opposing a New Zealand outfit who have flown under the radar, making a habit of upsetting the odds this summer. Regardless of which side you pin your hopes on, this will be a thrilling match from start to finish and one worthy of the occasion. When the game has started many of the most popular betting markets remain live thanks to in-play betting. A punt is as exciting in the final few balls as it was before the start.
England Record Stunning Win over Oz
England lined up against old rivals Australia on Thursday in what was billed as a 50/50 contest. The home team were favourites, but many expected a resurgent Aussie team to upset the odds and battle their way to another final, giving them a real shot at defending their crown. It wasn’t to be, in fact it wasn’t even close. England rose to the occasion and made light work of Oz, smashing their way to a jaw-dropping eight wickets win.
The scoreboard read England 226-2 against Australian’s bitterly disappointing 223 all out. The eight wickets bare result suggest a tight afternoon but that wasn’t the case. England dominated from start to finish and can line-up at Lord’s knowing they fully deserve their place in the final. They have blown hot and cold at times in this tournament but when they have been good this summer they really have been sublime. A repeat performance against New Zealand and Sunday will be a one-sided affair, of that there can be no doubts.
The question punters must answer, however, is what England side will turn up. Will it be the swashbuckling outfit we saw in midweek or will they return to old habits and allow silly mistakes to spoil their good work? We will find out on Sunday, that much is guaranteed. Bookies expect England to win with a bit to spare and there’s no more than the 1/3 offered by Ladbrokes up for grabs. That’s tight for a final but it’s a stance that’s almost impossible to argue against. The price on England makes it one for weekend accumulators or big-hitters happy to put down a large stake as a single.
NZ are Here on Merit
New Zealand have been one of the form sides of this year’s World Cup and it really is no surprise to see them book a place at Lord’s. They wouldn’t have been on many punters’ antepost betting slips to win it but those who did back the Kiwis will find themselves in a very good position. Backers can let the bet run and hope for the best on Sunday or they can cash out for a profit before sitting back and watching the match as a mere spectator.
The underdogs booked their place in the final with a fantastic semi-final win over India on Wednesday, one that went against the expectations of traders and most tipsters. They won the match by a solid 18 runs with the final score reading NZ 239-8 against the 221 all out of the pre-match favourites. India have caught the eye this summer but, on the day, they were beaten by the better team who wanted it more.
The final will be something similar with form and reputation left at the door. This is a single match shoot-out for the trophy between two teams more than capable of coming out on top. The odds have New Zealand as second favourites but there won’t be a single member of the away dressing room that will consider that to be accurate. They know all the pressure is on England and can, therefore, go and enjoy the occasion and play their best cricket.
Our Tip: England highest first 15 overs at 8/13 with Ladbrokes