New Zealand vs. South Africa: Betting Tips, Odds, Cricket World Cup Prediction
One of New Zealand and South Africa will banish their reputation for choking on the World Cup stage when they meet in the semi-final of the tournament at Eden Park, Auckland on Tuesday.
Both sides will be hoping to secure their first appearance in the tournament finale by notching an important win, and as such, an enthralling day’s play is surely in store. Each team was very impressive in bagging a comfortable victory in the quarter-finals and will be looking to build upon those fine displays with a place in the World Cup final on the line.
Here’s a look at how the bookmakers are viewing a variety of markets coming into this enticing occasion and a closer look at where the value might be for those looking to make a quick buck on this last-four showdown.
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| New Zealand | 11/10 | South Africa | 8/11 |
| Hashim Amla (SA) | 6/1 | Martin Guptill (NZ) | 7/1 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 13/2 | Quinton de Kock (SA) | 8/1 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 7/1 | Francois du Plessis (SA) | 9/1 |
| Kane Williamson (NZ) | 7/1 | Ross Taylor (NZ) | 10/1 |
| Imran Tahir (SA) | 11/2 | Tim Southee (NZ) | 6/1 |
| Morne Morkel (SA) | 11/2 | Vernon Philander | 13/2 |
| Trent Boult (NZ) | 11/2 | Daniel Vettori (NZ) | 7/1 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 6/1 | Kyle Abbott (SA) | 7/1 |
Top Batsman: Brendon McCullum, 13/2
At the sharp end of a competition, teams typically look toward experienced, talismanic figures to haul them over the line. New Zealand’s man in that mould is Brendon McCullum, and he’ll be desperate to set a sharp early tempo with his aggressive brand of batting at the top of the order.
The Black Caps skipper started the tournament sensationally, notching four half-centuries in his opening five matches. But since his 50 against Australia in that thrilling one-wicket win for New Zealand, McCullum has gone off the boil. Expect the occasion to see this wonderful player get back to form with a bang here, though.
As noted by former India player Sanjay Manjrekar, McCullum is a player who loves to lead from the front:
South Africa’s bowling has been a little haphazard first up, and if they begin to spray the ball all over the place amid the intense focus of a semi-final, McCullum will be ruthless in getting after them. His ability to shift pressure onto the opposition bowlers is superb, and that’s going to be vital in a match that’s likely to be extremely tense.
He’s going to have a raucous New Zealand crowd in full support too, especially after writing an open letter to every boss in the country, per Alt Cricket:
"Brendon McCullum is officially in charge of the whole of New Zealand! pic.twitter.com/nLqdz7td1W
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 23, 2015"
Admittedly, the manner in which McCullum plays does mean he typically either notches a sizeable score or a pretty meagre one. But these games call for a mixture of experience and quality, both of which the New Zealand skipper boasts plenty.
Top New Zealand Bowler: Trent Boult, 5/2
Eden Park has a reputation for being an ideal venue for batsmen, and with the likes of McCullum and AB de Villiers in situ, that’s where the focus will be trained in the build-up to this one. That makes taking wickets all the more crucial, and in Trent Boult, the Black Caps arguably boast the finest bowler at the tournament.
He was superb with the new ball in hand against the West Indies last time out, settling into a fine early rhythm, bowling all 10 of his overs in one devastating spell and taking four wickets in the process. As noted by the tournament’s official Twitter account, that haul put him at the top of the wicket-taking standings:
The left-armer has given the Black Caps a brilliant presence in the early stages of the innings. Not only does he take wickets, but his line and length rarely strays beyond immaculate, resulting in some simply devastating spells of bowling.
His economical efforts will be vital first up, especially given the aggressive manner in which South Africa typically set their stall out. As we can see here, courtesy of BBC Test Match Special, Boult is adept at getting his team off to an excellent start:
Players such as Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel will be just as threatening as Boult, while the Kiwi will be backed up superbly by Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori, meaning extraordinary run-scoring could well be curtailed. But Boult seems to have an edge to his play at the moment, which will see him emerge as the top wicket-taker in the match.
Prediction: New Zealand
New Zealand just look to have a much better balance to their side at the moment. The Black Caps have really gelled as a team in this tournament, and more often than not, the majority of the players in the group step up and turn in a solid performance, with men such as McCullum and Boult adding some stardust.
By comparison, South Africa seem to be a lot more reliant on the performances of individuals, and while they have arguably the world’s finest batsman in De Villiers, over the course of an entire match, the Black Caps’ extra depth will show.
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