England will be stepping out at Lords on the weekend in their first Cricket World Cup final since 1992. They started the tournament as pre-tournament favourites, have survived a few wobbles and now look to be back in the groove at the moment. England are starting as the big 2/7 odds-on favourites to win the match on Sunday* (betting odds taken from Unibet on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm).
They have already demolished New Zealand in this tournament once after hitting peak form once again, is there any stopping the home nation? Here are our top five bets for England v New Zealand Cricket World Cup Final 2019.
Jason Roy Top England Batsman
It’s an obvious one but a goodie. Opener Roy is at 33/10 to top score for England* (betting odds taken from Unibet on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm). In nine of his last eleven innings, he has made at least 50. He was primed for a century in the semifinal against Australia until an absolutely horrendous decision went against him. That will probably only serve to fire him up even more. He scores with such devastating pace and power. In a team stacked with so much tremendous batting power, Roy is still the pick of the bunch. He returned from injury in time to face India in their second to last group stage game. They haven’t looked back since he returned to the lineup. A game-changer.
Chris Woakes Top England Bowler
England played at Lords in the group stage against Australia. Although things don’t go the way of England, their best bowler (on what was a bad bowling day for all) was Chris Woakes who picked up a couple of Aussie wickets. Woakes was absolutely brilliant with the new ball in the semi-final against the Australians and ended the match with three. He got the crucial one of David Warner early in the third over and then when he struck out peter Handscomb, it left Austria at 3-14. It was some performance with the ball. It’s worth a look at him delivering in the Final. Woakes is 7/2 to be England’s Top Bowler* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm)
Kane Williamson Top New Zealand Batsman
If the Black Caps are to break English hearts at Lords on the weekend than one man is likely to be at the heart of it. That man is Skipper Kane Williamson. He is the only player in the New Zealand line who would walk into England’s squad, without question. Williamson is one of the best in the world at his trade and is the fifth top scorer at the World Cup. He has the second-highest score in the tournament as well of 148 against the West Indies. No batsman in this year’s World Cup has a better average than his (91.33). Williamson is an obvious pick to top score for the Black Caps and Unibet have a boost of 2/1 on him top scoring* (betting odds taken from Unibet on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm).
Joe Root Man Of the match
Root is the calm in the batting storm of England’s batting power. He has been involved in the five highest partnerships forged at this year’s World Cup. There was his stand of 189 with Eoin Morgan against Afghanistan and his pairing with Jos Buttler put-together 130 against Pakistan. Root is a superb fielder as well, which should be noted to put into the mix. He has the most catches (12) in the tournament after picking one up against Australia in the semi-finals on Thursday. He also helped get England to the finish line with a score of 49 from 46 balls. Betvictor have him at 10/1 to pick up the man of the match* (betting odds taken from Betvictor on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm).
Will a player score a hundred?
England have superb batting power. Everyone knows that. New Zealand have, by and large, done things by narrow margins. They have had the lowest margin of victory by runs in that tournament, beating West Indies by five runs. New Zealand have produced two of the smallest winning margins by wicket in the tournament (2 wickets and 4 wickets). Two of the four smallest winning margins by balls remaining have been pulled off by the Black Caps (3 balls and 6 balls). The pressure of this being a World Cup final as well may bring in some nerves and there not to be a hundred scored in the match is at 23/20* (betting odds taken from Betfair on July 11th, 2019 at 7:21 pm)
