New Zealand v Australia preview, player tips & predictions

New Zealand v Australia at the cricket World Cup at Lord’s on Saturday is a rematch of the World Cup final of four years ago in Melbourne, won in a canter by the home team.
Who is to say this match played at the home of cricket in England is not a precursor to another World Cup cricket final at the same ground between the same teams in just over a fortnight?
The Australians are five-time World Cup champions and have run into great form just in time to have a crack at another, while the Black Caps have been on song throughout this tournament, until their hiccup against Pakistan, and boast some of the great short-form and, indeed Test, players in the world.
There is always extra niggle when New Zealand and Australia meet, whether it be in the rugby (where NZ nearly always win) or league or cricket (where Australia more often prevails) or even netball (pretty even split).
This is another of those matches that we pencilled in before the tournament began as not to be missed. Both teams are in cracking form and will want to seize any any mental edge they can before the semi-finals start on Tuesday, July 9.
It is generally a good idea if you are looking to place a bet to check the William Hill website on the eve or day of the match to see what enhanced odds offers and other specials may be available.

This New Zealand v Australia betting preview will run you through betting options for match 37 of 48 of the ICC World Cup 2019.

---

MATCH INFO
New Zealand v Australia
Venue: Lord’s, London, Saturday, June 29, 1.30pm (British time)
Head to head odds: New Zealand $2.50; Australia $1.53
Last time they met: No result: New Zealand 291 (45 overs) v Australia 3-53 (9 overs) at Edgbaston, Birmingham, June 2, 2017.

---

New Zealand v Australia odds:

For full markets visit the William Hill website.

HEAD TO HEAD BETTING:
New Zealand $2.50, Australia $1.53
Prediction: With both teams preparing to take part in the semi-finals there could be some tinkering with the line-ups to get certain players extra batting or bowling time. Nevertheless, both teams will desperately want to prevail, especially at this venue. We think the Australian bowling attack may give them the edge.

TOP RUN-SCORER BETTING:

New Zealand:
Top five in betting: Kane Williamson $3.25, Martin Guptill $4.50, Ross Taylor $5, Colin Munro $6, Henry Nicholls $7.

Top scorers from past five ODIs:
v Pakistan: Jimmy Neesham 97no
v West Indies: Kane Williamson 148
v South Africa: Kane Williamson 106no
v India: Match abandoned
v Afghanistan: Kane Williamson 79no

Australia:
Top five in betting: David Warner $3.75, Aaron Finch $4, Steve Smith $4.33, Usman Khawaja $5.50, Shaun Marsh $7, Glenn Maxwell $8.

Top scorers from past five ODIs:
v England: Aaron Finch 100
v Bangladesh: David Warner 166
v Sri Lanka: Aaron Finch 153
v Pakistan: David Warner 107
v India: Steve Smith 69

Top batter prediction: New Zealand’s opening pair has been a concern and the Kiwis really need Guptill and Munro to stand firm early and not expose the middle order to the pace and swing of the Aussies too early. Kane Williamson has been simply awesome in this tournament, a class batsman at the peak of his powers. However, the feisty Ross Taylor loves playing the Australians so maybe it is his turn to rack up a big number. We will back him at the $5 with William Hill. The Australian openers Finch and Warner have been dominant. There was much talk during the England game of promoting Steve Smith to No.3 so we will take the odds about him getting an extended time in the middle and back the former Australian skipper at $4.33, or hopefully more with enhanced odds at William Hill.

TOP WICKET-TAKER BETTING:

New Zealand:
Top five in betting: Trent Boult $3.75, Lockie Ferguson $3.75, Matt Henry $4.50, Tim Southee $4.50, Ish Sodhi $5.

Top wicket-takers from past five ODIs:
v Pakistan: Trent Boult 1-48, Lockie Ferguson 1-50, Kane Williamson 1-39
v West Indies: Trent Boult 4-30
v South Africa: Lockie Ferguson 3-59
v India: Match abandoned
v Afghanistan: Jimmy Neesham 5-31

Australia:
Top five in betting: Mitchell Starc $3.25, Pat Cummins $3.50, Adam Zampa $4.50, Kane Richardson $5, Jason Behrendorff $5, Nathan Lyon $5, Nathan Coulter-Nile $5.

Top wicket-takers from past five ODIs:
v England: Jason Behrendorff 5-44
v Bangladesh: Mitchell Starc 2-55, Marcus Stoinis 2-54, Nathan Coulter-Nile 2-58
v Sri Lanka: Mitchell Starc 4-55
v Pakistan: Pat Cummins 3-33
v India: Marcus Stoinis 2-62

Top bowler tip: We stuck to our guns tipping Trent Boult and he has repaid us. The left-hander is getting better the longer the tournament goes. Fellow pacemen Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry have also regularly been among the wickets in a common theme in this World Cup: speed kills. We will stick with class act Boult to come up trumps again. Australia’s fast bowlers have likewise dominated, especially Mitchell Starc. A late flurry of wickets for Jason Behrendorff eclipsed Starc’s four-wicket haul against England. Take your pick between the two left-armers as they are both in top form.

WGL best bets: New Zealand v Australia

Each of our ICC World Cup betting previews will highlight some potential wins for punters, or where our cricket tipsters think there is value to be found.

Steve Smith man of the match at $11

Smith has looked composed and seems ready to us to put in a big one to join Finch and Warner as Australian batsmen at their peak for the semi-finals. At his best Smith is one of the best players in the world and we are tipping him to show it here.

Australia to win and hit most sixes

With the six-hitting machines such as Warner, Finch and Maxwell in the line-up, this seems a pretty fair bet at around the $2.40 mark.

New Zealand v Australia prediction

Another belter of a match-up here but what is it with Australia? A year ago they were mauled by the English in ODI cricket and looked shell-shocked and defeated. They have regenerated and now surely must be a great chance to notch title No.6. Not that the Kiwis will roll over. They feel they are owed a title after 2015 and are a well-balanced, experienced and calm side. Bring it on.

ALSO READ:
ICC World Cup 2019 betting guide
ICC World Cup 2019 leading wicket-taker
Cricket betting sites
ICC World Cup 2019 leading run-scorer
ICC World Cup 2019 player of tournament

Relevant news