Start time: 1030, 01/06/2019
Venue: Cardiff
TV: Sky Sports
New Zealand were runners-up in the last ICC Cricket World Cup and can get off to a flying start in this summer’s tournament when facing Sri Lanka in Wales.
Their opponents revolutionised the ODI game when lifting this trophy back in 1996 but are no longer the force of old and have slipped down the rankings in recent years.
The Kiwis are a short price at 3/10 but still get a confident vote in our opening New Zealand vs Sri Lanka prediction.
The dark horses for success
New Zealand are invariably referred to as dark horses for success when it comes to major tournaments, but that probably does them an injustice, as they are now established among the fancied teams.
The Kiwis will again bring a plucky ‘can-do’ attitude and this year’s ODI results probably reflect where they lie in the pecking order.
A 4-1 series loss to India may just have exposed their limitations, but brushing aside Sri Lanka 3-0 in January and Bangladesh by the same scoreline a month later highlights a clinical streak against lesser foes.
Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and captain Kane Williamson are all dangerous with the bat and have great experience at elite level.
Looking at the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka odds, our preference is to side with Taylor to top score here at 7/2, as he is averaging 80+ in this format over the past 18 months.
Predictions for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka enjoyed a confidence-boosting win over Scotland recently, but had previously suffered eight straight defeats to South Africa and New Zealand.
Two more heavy losses to the Proteas and Australia in warm-up matches suggest this is a team that is there for the taking at present.
Angelo Mathews provides some solidity in the middle order and is likely to get plenty of time to develop an innings, so 4/1 for him to head the runs list is tempting.
However, the Crusaders struggled to cope with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi when these sides met Down Under earlier this year.
The 26-year-old, who featured for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, claimed eight scalps in those three games and 4/1 for him to be the Kiwis’ top bowler again here is added to our New Zealand vs Sri Lanka betting tips.
