Cricket World Cup Betting Tips: New Zealand vs Pakistan

New Zealand vs Pakistan betting tips:

After making a strong start to their 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, New Zealand find themselves in a battle to qualify for the knockout phase against Pakistan in Bangalore. 

The Black Caps won four games in a row to start the tournament, including a dominant nine-wicket victory over England in their opening match. 

But, Tom Latham’s men have lost their last three matches against India, Australia and South Africa, putting their hopes of reaching the semi-finals in jeopardy. 

Injuries have also started to mount for New Zealand. Kane Williamson was sidelined with a fractured thumb early in the tournament and he has been joined on the sidelines by Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, forcing them to call-up Kyle Jamieson to the squad.

Pakistan will look to expose the Black Caps’ problems to press their own case for a semi-final berth.  

Babar Azam’s men secured a vital win over Bangladesh to move within two points of New Zealand in fourth place. 

But, time is running out for them with in-form Afghanistan also pushing for a spot in the knockout phase, making a win over Latham’s side imperative. 

After looking at the Cricket World Cup odds, here are three predictions for the crucial showdown.

Eyes on Santner 

Mitchell Santner is New Zealand’s leading wicket taker at the tournament with 14 strikes to his name. 

But, the left-arm spinner has been off his game in the last two matches, failing to take a wicket against South Africa and being dispatched for 80 from his 10 overs by Australia.  

Santner has either not provided a threat with ball in hand or has been expensive. It’s a far cry from his displays earlier in the World Cup where he offered both control and the ability to strike with regularity.

If the 31-year-old can find his form, he still has a chance to be the top bowler at the tournament with outside odds available from UK bookmakers.  

Santner does not have a good record against Pakistan, taking only eight wickets in 11 matches at an average of 53.80. 

Given his side’s need for a strike bowler in the absences of Henry and Ferguson, we’re backing him to take over 1.5 wickets at 21/20 with Unibet. 

Mitchell to rally New Zealand line-up 

Daryl Mitchell has continued to operate at a high level despite his side’s poor run of form. The 32-year-old scored a defiant century in the defeat to India and quick-fire 54 against Australia. 

Only Rachin Ravindra has more runs than Mitchell for New Zealand at the World Cup, and has one more innings to his name.  

Mitchell always seems to rise to the occasion at important times for his team, and this is the perfect moment for him to put forward a match-winning display.

He has a very good record against Pakistan, scoring two centuries against them in ODIs earlier this year.  

Mitchell notched scores of 113 and 129 in Rawalpindi, albeit both hundreds were in losing efforts. 

The odds for Mitchell to make another substantial score against Pakistan are worthy of consideration at 11/4 with bet365 to notch 70 runs or more. 

Most sixes in the match 

Both sides have excellent strikers of the ball in their batting line-ups and we could be in store for a game packed with sixes. 

Fakhar Zaman was out to prove a point on his recall to the team for Pakistan in their win over Bangladesh.  

He blasted seven sixes in his innings of 81, and certainly has the capability to trouble the New Zealand attack. 

Zaman scored three straight centuries against the Black Caps in their meetings earlier this year, scoring six sixes in his career-best knock of 180 in Rawalpindi.

Azam, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammed Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed round out a unit that could trouble the stands in Bangalore. 

New Zealand also have powerful hitters in their line-up, but outside of Ravindra, Mitchell and James Neesham, they haven’t been on their mettle of late. 

So, we’re backing Pakistan to score the most sixes in the match at 11/10 with Betway. 

Simon Sinclair is an experienced sports journalist, who has written for national publications for football, cricket, NFL and many more. He contributes tips on a wide range of sports for The Independent.