EXPERT CRICKET TIPS: ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY FINAL
Final – India v New Zealand
India will be gunning for a record third Champions Trophy title but standing in their way is an adaptable New Zealand side as the two teams face off in Sunday’s final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Indians were the first side to progress to the finale, outlasting Australia by four wickets as paceman Mohammad Shami’s 3/48 off ten overs helped keep the Aussies to 264 batting first, a target that was reached with 11 balls remaining thanks mainly to talisman Virat Kohli’s 84 off 98 balls, though he did receive excellent support from both Shreyas Iyer (45 off 62 balls) and KL Rahul (42 not out off 24 balls). They will now hope to repeat their group stage win over the Black Caps who got the better of South Africa in a high-scoring contest, piling on 6/362 at Lahore with twin tons to top-order pair Rachin Ravindra (108 off 101 balls) and Kane Williamson (102 off 94 balls) and although the Proteas threatened to pull off the massive chase at 2/157 after 26 overs, they were pegged back by a clever spell from captain Mitchell Santner (3/43 off ten overs), ultimately finishing on 9/312.
Betting Strategy
BACK: (Match Odds) India (WIN) at $1.40+ for 3 units
There’s no doubt who the punters are expecting to hold up the trophy with India clear favourites ahead of the Kiwis who will be hoping for a repeat of the 2000 final when they upstaged the Indians in Nairobi. However it’s hard to remember a major tournament final with all the cards stacked so heavily in one team’s favour with the pre-tournament favourites having an extra day’s break on top of the comfort and familiarity of playing every single match at this ground, whilst the Black Caps, already missing first-choice quicks Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, have bounced between Dubai and separate locations in Pakistan, so it’s difficult to see anything other than an Indian victory.
