Best bets & player specials for NZ vs. Australia T20 final

NEW Zealand can count themselves lucky to have made it this far.

A two-run defeat to England on Sunday left the hosts with a 1-3 record and net run rate of -0.556.

That was enough to reach the T20 tri-series final ahead of the Brits, who finished with one win at -1.036.

Martin Guptill backed up his century in Auckland with a 62 in Hamilton, but it was Colin Munro who ensured NZ’s progression with a blistering 57 off only 21 balls.

Tim Southee was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets at only 5.5 runs per over.

Now it is back to Eden Park for a blockbuster rematch with Australia.

The green and gold looked in big trouble last Friday as Guptill and Munro blasted the Black Caps to a monster total of 243.

It would have been so much worse for the Aussies had Ashton Agar (1/24) and Kane Richardson (2/40) not restored some sanity in the latter overs.

That last-ditch rescue job proved vital as the tourists clobbered their way to victory with seven balls to spare.

D’Arcy Short top scored with 76 before Victorian sloggers Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch closed it out with quick-fire 30s.

There was also a welcome return to form for David Warner, who smashed a brutal 59 in his first double-digit score of the series.

With that remarkable result, Australia take a perfect record into Wednesday’s final.

NZ vs. Australia top batsman tips

Martin Guptill

• Top NZ runscorer – +300 at William Hill
• Man of the match – +800 at Ladbrokes

We have stuck by Guptill all series and he has not disappointed. The clean-hitting Kiwi opener has reeled off three half-tons and a century in his last five T20 Internationals, so why would we jump ship now?

David Warner

• Top Australia runscorer – +350 at Ladbrokes
• Man of the match – +800 at William Hill

That big 50 was exactly what the Aussie skipper needed to snap out of his funk. A few of his teammates might have more runs and form behind them, but you will never get better money for Warner than right now.

Best bets for top bowler

Tim Southee

• Top NZ wicket-taker – +350 at CrownBet
• Man of the match – +2200 at CrownBet

How do you pick a top bowler candidate on a ground where these two teams amassed 488 runs in 39 overs only a few days ago? Southee starred on Sunday and offers better value than Trent Boult, et al.

Kane Richardson

• Top Australian wicket-taker – +400 at Sportsbet
• Man of the match – +2800 at CrownBet

The likes of Billy Stanlake and AJ Tye have attracted plenty of attention this summer, but it is Richardson who has topped the pops two games running. On that form, the South Australian is paying overs at most bookies.

Who wins – New Zealand or Australia?

“Anything you can do, we can do better.” That was the tone of Australia’s record win at Eden Park last week. Both teams boast some brutal hitters in good form, but do the Black Caps have quite the same depth beyond Guptill and Munro? Get on the Aussies to close out a perfect series in style.

Top tip: Australia to win/David Warner top scorer – +500 at Sportsbet

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