Australia vs New Zealand – Aussies to maintain stranglehold
Published:Australia have a perfect one-day record against New Zealand on sub-continent pitches and they can continue this run to maintain their winning start at the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Match Odds
It is 2/5 in the Cricket World Cup betting that Australia beat New Zealand, as both nations look to build on victories in their opening matches in Group A.
Australia have won all eight previous meetings with New Zealand on the sub continent and are largely considered to have the best all-round team.
New Zealand are 2/1 to build on their routine ten-wicket victory over Kenya by beating Australia and they have the added advantage of previously having played on the Nagpur pitch, when defeating Ireland in a World Cup warm-up game.
Daniel Vettori wickets
While Australia can count on the pace of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson to get wickets, New Zealand’s best hope of victory may be Daniel Vettori.
Although the spinner is not as dominant against the Australians as he is with other nations, he could be aided by the greater turn offered on the sub continent.
Furthermore, Australia appeared to have trouble scoring off the spin of Zimbabwe in their opening game and Vettori certainly has the variation to take wickets if the Australian batsmen become frustrated or need to score runs quickly.
Therefore, 11/10 looks a decent price that he takes a minimum of two wickets against Australia.
The Aussies are yet to lose a Cricket World Cup match this century, having avoided defeat since losing to Pakistan in 1999.
Captain Ricky Ponting looked to be in good touch before getting run out against Zimbabwe and can be expected to make a telling contribution.
Ponting is 13/8 to score a 50 against New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup odds.
A £25 stake on Ponting being named man of the match would return £300. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.
