ICC World Cup: New Zealand’s Southee to ensure semi-final spot
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New Zealand entertain West Indies in the last of the World Cup quarter finals and playing at a venue which keeps on rewarding their pace attack, the result the hosts crave should be forthcoming.
The match odds paint an accurate picture of the balance going into this last-eight clash, staged at the Black Cap’s favourite ODI stomping ground in Wellington.
New Zealand are strong 2/7 favourites as the only team to have emerged from the group stages unbeaten, which includes toppling Australia in Pool A.
Brendon McCullum’s side are chasing an eighth consecutive 50-over win when taking on the West Indies, who are cast as 11/4 underdogs after plotting a topsy-turvy course through phase one.
Played six, won three is how Jason Holder’s team have carved out this opportunity, scraping past Ireland on net run rate only, and doubts over star bat Chris Gayle’s availability could further dent Windies’ chances.
Although the West Indians harbour some danger in their attack, not least 14-wicket quick Jerome Taylor, it’s New Zealand’s bowling line-up which is the most well-rounded and deadly in the tournament.
Trent Boult is the pinnacle of this devastating attack, chalking off best figures of 5/27 as he ripped through Australia in Auckland.
Boult has been extremely well backed up by the best economy in the competition courtesy of Daniel Vettori’s ever reliable off breaks and the ball movement of Tim Southee.
At Wellington Regional Stadium in the group, Southee took incredible figures of 7/33 to leave England in a mess at 123 all out and at 5/2 he looks a steal to take the most Kiwi wickets again.
Southee has taken 21 wickets in six ODIs at the ground at an average of just 12.0, including two five-fors and one four-wicket haul.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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