Australia vs. New Zealand 3rd ODI betting and player prop tips

Australia vs. New Zealand, Friday, December 9, 2016, 2.20pm AEDT, Melbourne Cricket Ground, watch on Nine Network

ODI1: Australia (8/324) defeated New Zealand (256) by 68 runs

ODI2: Australia (5/378) defeated New Zealand (262) by 116 runs

GOOD luck New Zealand.

That’s all we can say to the Kiwis as they head to the Melbourne Cricket ground and try to make it back from being crushed in the first two one dayers of the series against Australia.

It might be a dead rubber, but don’t think for a moment the Aussies are going to take the foot off the pedal.

At least if you listen to legend Mike Hussey.

With some talk the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could be given the game off to rest in anticipation of the Test series against Pakistan, Huss was having none of it.

“I know they’ll (the selectors will) be very tempted to perhaps give Starc and Hazlewood a bit of a rest leading into the Test matches against Pakistan but a lot of me hopes they don’t,” Hussey told Optus Sport.

”(They should) keep the momentum going, keep the guys playing well, keep the team’s confidence up so they can take it into the Pakistan series.

“I hope they keep picking the best team and make this a whitewash.”

In match one, the Aussies received a remarkable captains knock from Steve Smith, who clubbed a career best 164 off 157 balls to propel the Aussies to 8/324.

Travis Head, with 52, and then keeper Matty Wade – who smashed three sixes in his 38 off 22 balls provided the late order fireworks that inflated the score.

The Kiwis shared the wickets around, with three bowlers taking two each, before Martin Nuptial clubbed 114 off 102 balls at the top of the order to give them a sniff.

But 324 was always going to be a mountain, the visitors reaching 256, with Colin Munro finishing one short of his half century with 49.

Hazlewood was the destroyer for Australia, claiming 3/49 off his 10, with three other Aussie bowlers taking two each.

If you thought the score in match one was big, the Aussies went mental in match two in Canberra, flaying the Kiwi bowling to all parts in racking up 5/378.

David Warner set the pace with 119 off 115 balls, but there were three other half centuries, with Smith picking up where he left off accumulating 72 off 76 balls, Head making his second 50 in a row with 57 off just 32 balls, and the much maligned Mitch Marsh finishing unbeaten on 76 off 40 balls – belting a remarkable seven sixes in his innings.

There wasn’t much to speak of in the Kiwi bowling attack, with Tim Southee the only multiple wicket taker with 2/73.

In reply, the Kiwis again had a crack, with Kane Williamson (81 off 80 balls) and Jimmy Neesham (74 off 83) putting on 120 for the third wicket after Guptill blasted 45 off 43.

But, in a similar story to match one, weight of runs was simply too heavy, and the Kiwis eventually succumbed to be all out for 262.

In a sight that would warm the hearts of the Aussie selectors, big New South Welshman Pat Cummins, who made a triumphant return from a long injury lay-off at the start of this series, speared through the Kiwis, claiming 4/41 to be the best of the Aussie bowlers, with three others claiming two each.

Top run scorer tips

Australia:

Aaron Finch (+400 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Seems to be the only Australian batsman out of form. And we don’t think that is a good thing for the Kiwis. Never looks far off a massive total and should be buoyed by the fact his opening partner in Warner and first drop in Smith have been blasting the Kiwis all over the park. We reckon Finch is on the cusp and could be looking at a massive ton. He’s made a duck and a very slow 19 in his two digs, but his form for the Vics has been good and it should not take too long for that to translate.

New Zealand:

Martin Guptill ($3.60 with Sportsbet.com.au)

With due respect to Williamson, Guptill sets the tone for the New Zealand batting line up and he has been in fine form, cracking a ton, and then a whirl wind total in the second match. He has a brilliant record against the Australians and should be able to carry on with his fine form, even if it is in another losing effort.

Top wicket taker tips

Australia:

Pat Cummins ($5 with Sportsbet.com.au)

This kid has always had the talent. But the vessel has let him down. Let’s hope he has everything right, because he is going to take mountains of wickets in Australian colours if he can string games together. The Kiwis simply could not handle him in Canberra and we reckon the big fella will be just about unplayable on the pacy MCG deck.

New Zealand:

Tim Southee (+275 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Missed the first game, but has always troubled the Aussies. Snared two in Canberra and should be thereabouts again. If you can get two wickets the way the Aussies are batting, you’re almost a shoe in to be there abouts in the the top wicket taker contest.

Match predictions

Match result: Australia to win ($1.33 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Highest opening partnership: Australia (-136.99 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Regardless of whether they rest Starc and – or Hazlewood, we reckon the Aussies have done enough damage to the Kiwis to get past them for a 3-0 series white wash. It is the first time the Aussies have won the Chappel-Hadlee Trophy since 2011. They are coming off their highest one day international score on home soil after blasting 5/378 and, even with the bowling depleted, should be able to put enough runs on the board (or chase them down).