Will the Black Caps be able to bounce back against England following the madness of Friday’s T20 against Australia?
The Kiwis and Englishmen head into what is effectively a semi-final clash, after Australia dominated the round-robin stage of the trans-Tasman T20I tournament undefeated.
Victory for the Black Caps will secure them a place in Wednesday’s grand finale, while a narrow defeat might still keep them in. England, on the other hand, must win convincingly to take on Australia in the final at Eden Park.
New Zealand v England | Sunday, 18 February | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 8:00 PM
Match Winner Odds
New Zealand 92/100
Tie 25/1
England 92/100
The hosts New Zealand might feel a little shaken up after cranking up 243 for six, only to watch Australia chase it down with seven balls to spare in an epic match earlier this week. To bounce back from the highest successful chase in T20I history, Kane Williamson and his squad will need tremendous resolve.
While most bowlers were expensive in Auckland, Ish Sodhi stood out with relatively economical figures despite a high economy rate. His leg-spin will play a crucial role at Seddon Park, where the pitch might favour bowlers and put pressure on the visitors’ shot-making.
Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro dominated the top order at Eden Park against a lacklustre bowling attack. England will need to vary their bowling strategy, perhaps with slower balls and bouncers, to counter this threat on a slower pitch.
New Zealand must hope their middle order steps up effectively. The batting order adjustments at Eden Park did not pay off, with Tim Seifert promoted to three and Kane Williamson pushed down to seven. Ross Taylor also needs to move up the order, leaving Colin de Grandhomme for late-innings hitting.
England
England played New Zealand just five days ago; solid performances from Adil Rashid, Dawid Malan and Alex Hales unfortunately fell short of a win but laid a foundation for Sunday’s crucial match. As former World T20 champions, the pressure to deliver is high, and experience in high-stakes games will be key.
Captain Eoin Morgan’s fitness is uncertain, possibly handing leadership duties to Jos Buttler. This responsibility could inspire Buttler, who needs to improve after scoring just two runs in the last meeting against New Zealand.
England’s bowlers must find a strategy to contain Martin Guptill, who after a half-century against England and a blazing hundred against Australia, is in stellar form. The contest between Guptill and pacer Mark Wood promises to be fascinating, especially considering the pitch conditions and England’s possible bowling lineup changes including Liam Dawson.
New Zealand have an impressive T20 record at Seddon Park, winning seven out of eight games. Despite the ground’s small size, the highest T20I total is 202 for five, indicating a pitch that balances bat and ball. Spinner Rashid will therefore be vital for England.
Verdict: New Zealand 92/100
The Black Caps are expected to learn from their mistakes against Australia and replicate their solid batting performance against England to secure their place in the final.
