Start time: 1430, 22/06/2019
Venue: Old Trafford
TV: Sky Sports
New Zealand versus West Indies represents a clash of Cricket World Cup styles and siding with the cool, calm and collected Kiwis is a percentage pick.
The Black Caps have battled through a few tricky situations to win all four of their completed fixtures and may have too much nous for their more gung-ho opponents.
Punters can get 57/100 for that successful sequence to continue and that is our first New Zealand vs West Indies prediction.
New Zealand’s predictions and tips
New Zealand did benefit from a kind fixture list when starting out with wins over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, before a Trent Bridge tussle with India was washed out.
However, they enhanced their top-four credentials with a composed four-wicket triumph over South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
A disciplined bowling display, led by Lockie Ferguson’s three for 59, restricted the Proteas to 241 for six.
The Kiwis were then under pressure at 80 for four, but Kane Williamson’s measured unbeaten century and a more swashbuckling 60 by Colin de Grandhomme saw them home.
Williamson now has 225 from three innings and is a worthy favourite at 5/2 to top score for the Black Caps again in the New Zealand vs West Indies odds.
West Indies’ Odds and Tips
The West Indies have shown flashes of brilliance, but the trademark inconsistencies have seen them pick up just three points from five matches.
Their latest loss to Bangladesh was particularly damaging and keeping up morale will be tough now the semi-finals seem out of reach.
Shai Hope hit a fine 96 as the Windies posted 321 for eight, but the Tigers batted beautifully to prevail with 51 balls to spare.
“If we want to go through into the semi-finals, we’ve got to beat the best teams,” said skipper Jason Holder.
“We’ve got to back ourselves and be more clinical with the ball. A few top edges didn’t go our way, but we didn’t help ourselves as well.
“We’ve also got to score more runs, because we haven’t got a batsman with a hundred yet.”
Shimron Hetmyer has progressed in the batting department, hitting 39 versus England and 50 against Bangladesh, so 6/1 he top scores for the Windies is added to our New Zealand vs West Indies betting tips.
