Cricket betting tips: Guptill and Latham fancied to fall short of expectations
ALTHOUGH a semi-final place is not yet confirmed, New Zealand will be happy with their tournament so far.
Only a heavy defeat to England and a big Pakistan win against Bangladesh on Friday could see them in trouble.
Kane Williamson has of course been their main man, averaging 113.5.
His knock against South Africa typified his game, anchoring the innings as wickets fell around him and seeing his side home in the final over.
You wouldn’t bet against him being in the runs again today and his Sporting Index performance is priced at 58-63.
New Zealand’s over-reliance on their number three has been evident, however.
They’ve only exceeded 250 in one game during the tournament so far and the frailty of their batting order was exposed somewhat against Australia.
They fell 86 short of a reasonable 244 at Lord’s, with Williamson again the top scorer.
England will know that he and fellow stalwart Ross Taylor are the prize wickets, but even so, neither score at a pace that will take the game out of England’s reach.
Martin Guptill looks a shadow of the man who was the 2015 World Cup’s highest scorer.
He hasn’t passed fifty since the opening game and has had two ducks to boot.
He looks terribly out of nick, and I’d look to sell his Sporting Index performance Index at 44.
Another New Zealand batsman in poor form is Tom Latham.
The Kiwi vice-captain is yet to score more than 14 in the tournament and I’d expect that run to continue today.
Although he’s likely to pick up a couple of catches with the gloves, I’d still be tempted to sell his performance index at 45.
POINTERS
Sell Martin Guptill Performance Index
44 Sporting Index
Sell Tom Latham Performance Index
45 Sporting Index