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One of the co-hosts, the West Indies, are back in action and looking to clinch a Super 8 spot as they face a New Zealand side still reeling from their annihilation at the hands of Afghanistan.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday 12th
June, 2024 – USA – 7:30pm / West Indies – 8:30pm & Thursday 13th
June, 2024 – UK – 1:30am / South Africa – 2:30am / Pakistan – 5:30am / India – 6:00am / Bangladesh – 6:30am / Australia – 10:30am
VENUE: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
WEATHER: 27c or 80.6 F and clear skies
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: USA – Willow TV / West Indies – ESPN Caribbean / UK – Sky Sports / South Africa – SuperSport / Pakistan – PTV Sports & TEN Sports / India – Star Sports / Bangladesh – Disney Star
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: USA – Willow TV website / West Indies – ESPN Play Caribbean app / UK – Sky Go / South Africa – SuperSport app / Pakistan – Myco & Tamasha / India – Disney+Hotstar / Bangladesh – Disney+Hotstar / Australia – Amazon Prime Video
WEST INDIES FORM: MARCHING THROUGH
The West Indies missed out on the main stage of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup and then failed to qualify for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup but they have started this tournament with back-to-back victories. The Windies needed 19 overs to chase 137 against Papua New Guinea on opening night before an emphatic 134-run victory against Uganda, bowling the Africans out for the lowest total, 39, in ICC T20 World Cup history.
LAST FIVE: WWWWW
NEW ZEALAND FORM: IN DANGER
New Zealand staggered into the tournament with an experienced squad that still boasts the likes of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult but the seemingly perennial semi-finalists or finalists of world events came majorly unstuck in their opener against Afghanistan. In their pursuit of 160 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, the Kiwis were bowled out for just 75 in 15.2 overs with the Afghans flexing their muscles.
LAST FIVE: LLWWL
WEST INDIES BETTING ANALYSIS
New Zealand found it difficult to deal with the left-arm pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi last week but did also lose two wickets to Mohammad Nabi and four to Rashid Khan. Given that Akeal Hosein will continue to open the bowling for the Windies and he took a five-fer the other day, backing Hosein to be their best bowler in the match (4/1) would be a good bet.
The Caribbean islands have a really strong and flexible batting line-up with Johnson Charles one of the most impactful T20 batters in the world in the last year or so. After his 44 against Uganda to ease himself into the tournament, Charles should begin to form a genuinely exciting partnership with Brandon King and the Windies having the best opening partnership (5/6) is a good bet.
NEW ZEALAND BETTING ANALYSIS
In that loss to Afghanistan, New Zealand took six Afghan wickets with all six wickets coming through pace as Boult took two alongside Matt Henry, whilst Lockie Ferguson took one. Left-arm pace has been very useful in the Caribbean so far in this tournament so the old stager of Boult to be their best bowler in the match (16/5) remains good value.
As for the batting, Glenn Phillips top scored with 18 the other day and whilst potentially lazy to suggest he will be their top scorer again, New Zealand’s top order will have trouble dealing with Akeal Hosein and Phillips’ excellent middle-order hitting against spin should help him so top scoring for the Kiwis (17/2) is also good value.
WEST INDIES VS NEW ZEALAND EXPERT PREDICTION
The West Indies will believe they can go deep into what is quickly turning into a very open tournament this summer and they will look to put the squeeze on New Zealand either with bat or ball. New Zealand could get off to a fast start but they will simply be aiming to hit themselves into some form so backing the more trustworthy and consistent of the two teams in recent times is the best bet. New Zealand, despite having played just one game, are already on the verge.
WEST INDIES VS NEW ZEALAND TOP TIP: WEST INDIES TO WIN