3rd ODI: New Zealand v Zimbabwe Odds and Betting Preview

NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand face Zimbabwe in their third and final One Day International, starting in the early hours of Thursday morning. Brendon McCullum’s side have the chance to seal a series whitewash if they win this upcoming match – their first such result in two years – so all eyes will be on the Napier Cricket Ground. New Zealand start the game as strong favourites to secure the win that they so strongly desire, and can be backed to do so at a market best of 1/10 (bet £10 to make £1 profit) with Stan James. For those punters anticipating an upset, however, the touring Zimbabwe side are on offer to prevail at considerably longer odds of 9/1 with Bet365.

New Zealand won the first two fixtures by 90 and 141 runs respectively, comprehensively outplaying Zimbabwe in all areas of the game. Home fans will expect to see a similarly emphatic victory on Thursday. New Zealand batted first in both of these two games, and each time they played their way into winning positions. Martin Guptill made 70 and 77 in the two fixtures, and starts Thursday’s game as favourite to top score for his side at 3/1 with Bet Victor. Guptill’s opening partner, Rob Nicol, failed in the first game, but more than compensated for his duck by amassing a colossal 146 runs in the second fixture. Nicol is on offer to top score once again at a market best of 4/1 with Bet365. Captain Brendon McCullum has yet to make an impact with the bat, but is nonetheless available to top score at the same odds of 4/1 with Ladbrokes.

Zimbabwean captain Brendan Taylor averages 34.58 runs in One Day cricket, and is undoubtedly their most dangerous batsman, capable of changing a game when he occupies the crease for any length of time. Taylor is unsurprisingly favourite to top score for his side – as he did in the opening ODI with 58 from 68 balls – and can currently be backed at 10/3 with Bet365. Tatenda Taibu is also deemed to be dangerous by the bookmakers, having made 50 runs in the second ODI in Whangarei, and is on offer to top score at 9/2 with Boylesports, whilst Stuart Matsikenyeri is available at best odds of 5/1 with Bet365.

Kyle Mills has picked up five wickets in the last two games for New Zealand, and is currently thought to be their most dangerous bowler by the bookmakers; Mills is on offer to finish Thurday’s game with the best figures for his side at 11/4 with Bet365. Left-armer Michael Bates has received promotion to the final 12-man squad, with Tim Southee dropping out, and can be backed to be New Zealand’s most successful bowler at 7/1 with Ladbrokes. Zimbabwe’s most threatening bowlers, on the other hand, are deemed to be Kyle Jarvis and Ray Price, both of who can be backed at 4/1 with Bet365,

Play Begins at 01.00 GMT

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