Kane Williamson markets & match tips for Australia vs. NZ 2nd ODI

Second ODI – 2:00pm local time on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

New Zealand
$2 at www.Bet365.com
ICC ranking: 2nd
ODI form: L W W W W

Australia
$1.90 at William Hill
ICC ranking: 1st
ODI form: W W W L L

ONE game in, it’s advantage New Zealand in the 2016 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The Kiwis took out a commanding 159-run win in the first match of the series at Eden Park on Wednesday, with fast bowlers Trent Boult (3/38) and Matt Henry (3/41) skittling Australia in under 25 overs.

Martin Guptill (90), Henry Nicholls (61) and Brendon McCullum (44) did the damage early with the bat, tonking a rather lacklustre Aussie pace attack for 307.

The visitors could only manage 148 in reply after four of their top six were dismissed for single digits.

That result has seen New Zealand plunge to $1.31 at Sportsbet.com to win the three-match series outright, with Australia blowing out to $3.25.

The in-form Usman Khawaja was left to carry the drinks at Auckland – a decision which led several major figures in Australian cricket to take aim at chief selector Rod Marsh.

“It’s a joke, it’s a joke and the pressure that should be mounting on Rod Marsh,” Michael Slater said on Sky Sports Radio.

“There’s no great planning when it comes to some selections and there is no great logic when they leave someone out like Khawaja. So Rod Marsh should be in the sights.”

Former Australian Test bowler Geoff Lawson echoed those sentiments regarding Khawaja, who was only called up to the touring party after Aaron Finch pulled out through injury.

“It’s a nonsense all round, and I guess from that point of view the selectors have been consistent from that point of view with Usman, and we know what to expect from them,” Lawson said.

“That used to be the mantra of Australian cricket, you just picked people who were in form, no matter who they were. The currency was making runs or taking wickets and you played.”

The personnel issues don’t stop there for the 2015 Cricket World Cup champions.

Star allrounder James Faulkner suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat at Auckland and will miss the remainder of the series, Australia’s team physio Alex Kountouris revealed after the game.

“James reported increased stiffness in his right hamstring during the first innings tonight and found it difficult running during our batting innings,” he told the press.

“Unfortunately, with the short turnaround between games we do not believe he will recover in time to take any further part in the series. As a result, he will return to Melbourne tomorrow to have scans and start rehabilitation.

“We are hopeful this is only a low grade injury but will know more in the coming days.”

Faulkner’s place will be taken by 26-year-old Victorian allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who made his ODI debut during last year’s tour of England.

New Zealand ODI squad

Brendon McCullum (captain)
Corey Anderson
Doug Bracewell
Trent Boult
Grant Elliott
Martin Guptill
Matt Henry
Adam Milne
Colin Munro
Henry Nicholls
Luke Ronchi
Mitchell Santner
Kane Williamson

Australia ODI squad

Steve Smith (captain)
George Bailey
Scott Boland
John Hastings
Josh Hazlewood
Usman Khawaja
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Glenn Maxwell
Kane Richardson
Marcus Stoinis
Matthew Wade
David Warner
Adam Zampa

Match predictions

Result – New Zealand to win ($2 at Bet365)
Highest first 15 overs – New Zealand ($1.90 at Bet365)

The first ODI highlighted one great disparity between the two 2015 World Cup finalists.

For while the New Zealand attack led by Boult was sharp, incisive and effective, the Aussie quicks were found wanting – and not for the first this summer.

John Hastings did his job, but Kane Richardson – supposedly the spearhead – is no adequate replacement for the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.

Then there’s the mind-boggling situation surrounding Khawaja, who remains no certainty to play despite notching ludicrous numbers with the bat at both international and domestic level this season.

Faulkner’s absence only compounds the problem, as he was one of only two Aussie batsmen (the other being Matthew Wade) to pass 30 on Wednesday.

If there are no significant changes on the field or behind the scenes between now and Saturday, there’s no reason Australia should expect to win at Wellington.

Kane Williamson betting markets

The clash at Eden Park produced one of the rarest sights in modern-day cricket: a Kane Williamson duck.

Even rarer is that New Zealand when on to claim a crushing victory despite their talismanic number three failing to fire.

History shows that whenever Williamson contributes runs, the Kiwis tend to win.

The 25-year-old does that quite often these days, as an ODI batting average of 47.21 attests.

Five half-centuries in his last nine international innings would also suggest it’s unlikely he will miss out twice in a row.

And it’s not all about runs with Williamson either, as his off-spinners have been known to jag important wickets on occasion.

Man of the match – $8

Top score for the match – $6.50

Top score for New Zealand – $3.75

To outscore Guptill and Smith – $2.75

To outscore Smith and Khawaja – $2.75

To outscore Guptill and Warner – $2.70

To score 50 – $2.20

To score 100 – $5.50

Most wickets for New Zealand – $13

Most wickets for the match – $26

Odds provided by www.WilliamHill.com