Top odds, best bets & T20 specials for NZ vs. Australia

NEW Zealand have one foot in the 2018 Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series finale.

Kane Williamson (72) just pipped our man Martin Guptill (65) for top runscorer on Tuesday as the Black Caps set England 197 for victory at Westpac Stadium.

The Brits gave it a fair shake as Alex Hales reeled off a brisk 47 and Dawid Malan notched his second 50 of the series, but a flurry of late wickets from Mitch Santner (2/29) and Trent Boult (2/46) saw NZ clinch it by 12 runs.

Now the Kiwis have a chance to exact revenge for their humiliating defeat at Sydney in the opening game of the series.

Meanwhile, Australia will hope to start the overseas leg of the tourney just how they finished the home fixtures.

Kane Richardson (3/33) and young Billy Stanlake (2/28) were at their destructive best as England crumbled to 7/137 at the MCG last weekend.

The Aussie bats made short work of a simple chase with 30-plus contributions from D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell.

There was also a blistering cameo from the fit-again Aaron Finch, who closed out the result with 20 runs from a mere five deliveries.

With under-pressure skipper David Warner failing yet again in Melbourne, there is a chance Finch and Short could open the Australian innings in Auckland.

NZ vs. Australia top batsman betting

Martin Guptill

• Top NZ runscorer – +300 at Palmerbet
• Man of the match – +700 at Sportsbet

Although Williamson took the chockies on Tuesday, we are sticking fast with big Marty G. The bloke is an absolute beauty in white-ball cricket and has shown excellent form all summer long.

Chris Lynn

• Top Australia runscorer – +333 at Ladbrokes
• Man of the match – +600 at Sportsbet

Lynn is a monster ball-striker who can clear roofs at most of the world’s top-flight cricket grounds. The Kiwis will have to do something special to contain him on the postage stamp that is Eden Park.

Best bets for top wicket-taker

Tim Southee

• Top NZ bowler – +333 at Palmerbet
• Man of the match – +1400 at Sportsbet

We have plumped for Southee over Boult because he offers a fraction more value for money. His capable lower-order hitting also makes him a better candidate for man of the match.

Billy Stanlake

• Top Australia bowler – +333 at Palmerbet
• Man of the match – +1400 at Sportsbet

Mitchell Starc has wreaked havoc at Auckland in the past (read 2015 Cricket World Cup). Stanlake is every bit as quick – maybe even a touch sharper – and will be a nightmare if the ball moves off the straight at all.

Who wins – New Zealand or Australia?

Is there much home ground advantage for the Black Caps? The Aussie lads have endured two-paced wickets all summer, so that old chestnut should not apply. If it comes down to a battle of the bowlers, the green and gold will be very hard to beat.

Top tip: Australia to win/Chris Lynn top scorer (+450 at Ladbrokes)

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