NZ vs England Test Series

[fairfranco]

England win by 126 runs.

After a poor start new zealand got going well with taylor and Sinclar on the 4th day but with Oram falling for 30 as the light became an issue and Vettori out for a duck it was only Mccullum's 85 that pushed them on. nothing from the tail.

Sidebottoms 5 wickets in the second innings to go with Andersson's 5 in the first did the job for England.

the batting was much improved from the first test, much more positive however there were still the usual floors of some low scores from part of the middle order and as usual nothing from the tail.

[BoozyBeggar]

I've been reading this thread for a while. I've got a question now.

For the final test, England are 1.66 to have the highest opening partnership in the 1st innings.

Does that seem generous to you?

Thus far, Vaughan and Cook have 84 and 79, Bell and How 44 and 4. Surely England must be better than a 60% shot.

I understand that Napier will be a batting track, but figure that's to England's advantage - Bell looks poor enough to get out cheap on any pitch, while England's openers are both quality and NZ will lack their two best bowlers so far this series.

Thoughts?

[bigmoose]

Watching the NZ openers, namely Bell, it does sound a good bet Boozy. And with NZ weakened bowling attack - Mills & more significantly Oram aren't playing.

The question is will that price hold after the toss? I read a quote from John Bracewell that the pitch might offer something 1st morning then flatten out to be a great batting strip. So if NZ bat them odds sound great value.

Even before Day1 the Draw is 1.85. With the ability to collapse quite easily of these 2 batting line-ups at what point does draw become a possible Lay? My other thought is to ask advice - if Eng bat 1st is the Lay of Eng (to then trade out later) almost a risk-free bet? If Eng bat rubbish odds drift. If Eng bat well won't the Draw just shorten even further & hence Eng win odds hardly shorten at all?
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Steve

[bigmoose]

Don't know what's more gutting, getting on a losing bet or as in this case not getting on a winning bet.

Hope you didn't get on your bet boozy. Altho the target of 4 set by Eng openers is still quite tight with NZ opener Bell still in their side. Except we've the same Ump again (Koertzen?) that never gave Sidebottom any lbw's for quite a while in last Test.

KP is 7 shy of a half century yet the team score is only 58. So on this basis even if he scores 200 we'll only make 250.
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Steve

[tomario]

the way the ball has moved around i can see the NZ team suffering.
I predict they will lose three wickets before lunch.
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[princecap]

hehe..

England Opening partnership = 4
NZ counterparts = 1

Oh boy!

[bigmoose]

boozy, did you do that Opening Partnership bet? NZ must be the only proper Test side that you still think the bet a great chance when Eng openers put on 4 runs!
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Steve

[hornybaby90]

Looking like this should be a NZ win. England have showed again that they occasionally struggle in test cricket, and have set a rather low target in the 1st innings. How is looking settled now (watch him go within 5 mins) and they have some good batsmen still to come. I would imagine they will achieve about 100 more runs than England after the 1st innings and should bat their way to a win around lunchtime on the final day. IMO.

[BoozyBeggar]

bigmoose,

I did make the opening partnership bet. Lots of cheering when Bell played to form.

Doesn't cover the loss on Villa vs Sunderland, but it helps.