England can’t get carried away against dangerous Kiwis in 2nd ODI
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ICC World Cup runners-up New Zealand will feel like wounded animals following their 210-run thrashing at the hands of England, who hit their record total 408, in the first of five ODIs.
Despite their all-star batting line-up, the Black Caps were restricted to 198 in reply, so don’t count against them to come fighting back. Coral still rate them as odds-on favourites at 8/11 for victory at The Oval.
The visitors will certainly look to super smasher openers Martin Guptill, highest runscorer at the World Cup, and captain Brendon McCullum. They are both priced at 10/3 to be top New Zealand batsman in the second ODI.
It was Kane Williamson (10/3) and ex-skipper Ross Taylor (9/2) that impressed most at Edgbaston, though, as they hit respective scores of 45 and 57.
With the ball, meanwhile, Trent Boult was the perhaps the one bowler to go away from the match with his head held high, as he took figures of 4-55 in his 10 overs. He tops the New Zealand bowling market at 5/2.
For England (11/10 for victory), it will be a matter of just avoiding what happened in recent two-Test series’ against the West Indies and then Kiwis, as they won the first match, before flopping in the second.
They are now the slight series favourites at 4/5 (New Zealand are evens), and their young line-up will have to spur themselves on again to achieve another triumph.
While there were many heroes on the day for the hosts, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid shone brightest.
Yorkshireman Root got the ball rolling, following openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales’ early dismissals, as he hit a superb hundred off 78 balls. The Test vice-captain is 10/3 to be best England batsman, and 7/2 to get the highest score of the match.
Wicketkeeper Buttler, though, outshone his teammate, by firing and fantastic century off just 66 deliveries, as he just missed out on his own quickest record, before being caught out on 129. He is 8/1 in the former market again.
Root’s Yorkshire teammate Rashid, meanwhile, impressed with both bat and ball, as he hit 69 before taking four wickets with his majestic leg spin and googlies. You can back him at 4/1 to be best England bowler.
Betting tip – Joe Root highest match runscorer @ 7/2
