England play New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday with both nations hoping to be crowned world champions for the first time. The match will be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground with tournament hosts, England, the bookies’ favourite to earn a maiden World Cup win.
Both England and New Zealand reached the World Cup final against all odds with both looking like they would exit the competition at the group stage at one point. Here at InterBet we will preview the much-anticipated showdown between England and New Zealand, looking at their route to the final as well as looking ahead at the final itself, offering enhanced match odds and tips.
The Route To The Final
England
Home nation, England, performed the great escape in the group stage after suffering three losses in their first seven group games. England kicked off the World Cup with a dominant 104-run win over South Africa before slumping to a narrow defeat to Pakistan just four day later.
Wins over Bangladesh, West Indies and Afghanistan followed on the tournament favourites looked on course for the semi-finals. However, back-to-back defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia left England on the ropes, needing to beat both India and New Zealand in their final two group games.
In their time of need, up stepped Jonny Bairstow. The England opener claimed successive centuries as England edged past India by 31 runs before comfortably beating Sunday’s opponents, New Zealand by 119 runs at Chester-le-Street.
That win against New Zealand meant that England finished the group stage in third place and would face Australia in the semi-final. Holders and five-time winners, Australia, arrived at Edgbaston full of confidence and were many people’s tips to win yet another world title. However, England completely outclassed their fierce rivals from down under, winning by eight wickets, booking a place in their first World Cup final since 1992.
New Zealand
New Zealand got their tournament off to a flying start, claiming a ten-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens. Their strong start to the tournament continued with comfortable wins over Bangladesh, Afghanistan before their match against India was abandoned due to rain. When New Zealand got back on the pitch, the wins kept coming with back-to-back wins against South Africa and West Indies.
New Zealand were charging towards the semi-final before suffering three consecutive defeats to Pakistan, Australia and England. That final loss to England left New Zealand looking nervously over their shoulders. A big win for Pakistan against Bangladesh would’ve seen the 1992 winners leapfrog New Zealand in the final semi-final spot. As it turned out, New Zealand’s five wins earlier in the tournament were enough to see them limp into the semi-final.
Finishing in fourth place, New Zealand faced group winners, India, in the semi-final at Old Trafford. Scoring just 239/8 from their 50 overs left New Zealand with a fight on their hands to reach a second successive World Cup final. But the game was turned on its head when India’s first three batsmen, including the tournament’s top run scorer, Rohit Sharma, were all dismissed for one run apiece. Ravindra Jadeja’s knock of 77 gave India hope but New Zealand held on to claim an unlikely 18-run win.
The final
England and New Zealand are the only two nations to feature in every Cricket World Cup without ever winning the competition. That win-less run will end for one of these great nations on Sunday. If England are to win on home soil then they will need to stop Kane Williamson.
With the bat, Williamson has been head and shoulders above all his New Zealand team mates and has recorded almost a third of New Zealand’s entire run total thus far. New Zealand’s openers have recorded the lowest average stand of every team in the tournament, meaning Williamson at three has been put in to bat three times in the first over!
Williamson has almost single-handedly dragged them games on occasion, scoring 548 runs in nine innings and is excellent value at 2/1 to be New Zealand’s top-scoring batsman in the final. Alternatively, he is 5/1 to top score in the final.
In contrast, England have a wealth of batting talent in their top order with Jason Roy (5/2), Jonny Bairstow (13/5) and Joe Root (16/5) all great value to top score for England.
England have the edge in recent ODIs between the two finalists, winning seven of the last nine meetings, including the last two. However, New Zealand have never lost to England in an ODI at Lord’s.
Match Odds
England – 1/4
New Zealand – 12/5