Time: 1030, 06/06/2017
Venue: SSE SWALEC, Cardiff
We were left feeling more than a little unlucky after tipping New Zealand to beat Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy but are hoping for compensation when the Black Caps take on England.
The Kiwis were picked out as a value bet at 7/5 for an Edgbaston victory and looked well placed to justify that faith until the Birmingham rain ruined things.
Kane Williamson hit a clinically-efficient century as New Zealand posted 291 and then Australia were reduced to 53 for three when chasing a reduced target of 235 from 33 overs.
However, the weather came to the favourites’ rescue and left captain Steve Smith to admit: “We’ve perhaps got away with one there.”
Nevertheless, New Zealand can take plenty of positives out of their performance, with Luke Ronchi and Ross Taylor also contributing useful runs.
On the bowling side, there were only nine overs to observe but Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne all adapted well to the conditions and look capable of causing England problems too.
Looking at the England vs New Zealand odds, we reckon the Kiwis are again overpriced at 7/4.
As expected, England enjoyed a fairly routine win over Bangladesh in their Group A opener but the victory was marred by an injury to Chris Woakes that will rule him out of the rest of the tournament.
Steven Finn is a solid replacement but there are concerns over the Three Lions’ attack, with Ben Stokes still battling against a niggling injury and Jake Ball hit for 82 off his 10 overs at The Oval.
Tamim Iqbal fired a fine 128 and Mushfiqur Rahim added 79 as Bangladesh posted 305 for six before ultimately paying the price for a rather cautious approach to that innings.
England overcame yet another flop by Jason Roy, with Joe Root’s unbeaten 133, 95 from Alex Hales and 75 not out from Eoin Morgan guiding them to a comfortable success.
However, the Bangladesh bowlers would struggle to stand out in a club match and England will be made to work much harder by the accurate Kiwis.
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